Sustainable Consumption & Production

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Press releases
Smartphones now easier to repair thanks to EU regulation according to consumer study

Smartphones have become easier to repair thanks to EU regulation, according to a new market check carried out by consumer groups across Europe. By the...

Ecodesign & Energy label
News
Major step against plastic bottle greenwashing as French court condemns Volvic

Last week, the Paris Judicial Court ruled against Danone water brand Volvic for using misleading claims, such as “carbon neutral”, “100% recyclable”...

Enforcement
Press releases
Consumer groups file greenwashing complaint against ENGIE, Eni Plenitude, Shell, and TotalEnergies

BEUC - with 12 member organisations from 11 countries - today filed a complaint with the European Commission and European consumer protection...

News
How to protect consumers through (yet) another fossil fuel crisis

The war in the Middle East has triggered another energy shock, with consumers having to pay the price (yet) again. BEUC (The European Consumer...

Energy markets Energy consumer rights Sustainable mobility Renewable energy
News
High-speed rail action plan could be just the ticket for consumers

The European Commission today published its High-Speed Rail Action Plan, to get Europe’s railways back on track and make sustainable travel a more...

Sustainable mobility
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Ecodesign & Energy label
EU Ecolabel
European Green Deal
Plastic bottles
Press releases
Consumer groups launch EU-wide complaint against major water bottle producers for greenwashing
- PDF Document - 218.02 KB

Unfair commercial practices
Enforcement
Available in English
Today, BEUC and member organisations from 13 countries have reported to EU authorities misleading commercial claims about the recyclability of their products by major drinking water bottle traders, such as Coca-Cola, Danone and Nestlé Waters/Nestlé. According to our analysis, such claims do not comply with the EU rules on unfair commercial practices. This report was carried out together with ClientEarth and ECOS - Environmental Coalition on Standards.
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Europe, consumers count on you
Reports
BEUC priorities for the next European Commission (2024-2029)
- PDF Document - 545.83 KB

Pharmaceuticals
Digital health
Energy markets
Energy consumer rights
Product safety
Chemicals
Banking and payment services
Investor protection
Sustainable mobility
EU Ecolabel
Ecodesign & Energy label
Privacy and personal data protection
Telecommunications
Enforcement
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Access to medicines
Digital trade
Online platforms
Transport and passenger rights
Consumers and trade
Digitalisation of finance
Artificial intelligence
European Green Deal
Competition in digital markets
EU competition policy
Food information
Food sustainability
Rail
Cars
Available in English
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Repairing fridge
Press releases
Sustainable products soon the norm thanks to EU Parliament vote but online sellers off the hook
- PDF Document - 104 KB

EU Ecolabel
Ecodesign & Energy label
European Green Deal
Available in English
Today, the European Parliament voted to make sustainable products the norm on the EU market, banning early obsolescence and destruction of unsold textiles and electronics. The Parliament adopted its position on the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). This ambitious position strengthens the Commission’s proposal but lacks strong measures to hold online marketplaces accountable.
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Consumers are increasingly willing to buy sustainable products, especially energy-efficient ones, in order to minimise their impact on the environment. All too often though, confusing information and a great variety of industry claims make this difficult. What makes it even more complicated is the lack of enough sustainable products in EU shops and that they are barely identifiable.

  • Improve the sustainability of products by reducing their impact on the environment
  • Give consumers the possibility to make informed and sustainable choices between different products using independent and verified labels (such as the Ecolabel). Unsustainable products to be taken off the market
  • Reduce the carbon footprint of transport in Europe while ensuring consumers benefit from improved information and cost reductions