On Monday 25 January, the European Commission and five companies launched the pilot phase of the voluntary business commitments for ‘green’ consumption called for by Commissioner Didier Reynders, as a first step towards the green transition which is one of the priorities of the new EU Consumer Agenda for 2021-2025 (see EUROPE 12617/11).
Four large companies or multinationals—L’Oréal, the Colruyt group, the Lego group, the Decathlon group—and one SME—the Dutch company Renewd—were the first to sign.
In doing so, these companies promise to accelerate their contribution to a green transition by reducing their carbon footprint, giving consumers confidence in both their environmental performance and that of their products and services through adequate and up-to-date information.
“For informed choices, consumers need more transparency on the carbon footprint and sustainability of products. Empowering consumers to make green choices [is our goal]”, the Commissioner reminded the press by videoconference.
The pilot phase will run until the end of March, but Mr Reynders is inviting other companies to join the pioneers. In 2022, the initiative will gain momentum.
“The aim is to extend it to other sectors and more countries. The first idea is to move forward gradually, the second to refine the commitments by applying an EU methodology to calculate the footprint of companies and products”, he said, assuring that these voluntary commitments did not exclude legislative initiatives. “We are laying the groundwork for a legislative initiative”, the Commissioner said.
The signatories promise to implement at least three of the following five commitments through action:
– calculate the company’s carbon footprint, including its supply chain, using the calculation method or environmental management system developed by the Commission and establish appropriate due diligence processes to reduce the footprint in line with the objectives of the Paris Agreement on climate change;
– calculate the carbon footprint of some of the company’s flagship products using the methodology developed by the Commission, achieve certain footprint reductions for the selected products and disclose progress to the general public;
– increase the sale of sustainable products or services in the total turnover of the selected company or part of the company;
– commit part of the company’s public relations expenditure to the promotion of sustainable practices, in line with the Commission’s implementation of the policies and actions of the ‘European Green Deal’; and
– ensure that information provided to consumers on the carbon footprint of companies and products is easily accessible, accurate and clear, and keep this information up to date. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)