Every claim on your label is a liability without a governance trail.
From "sustainably sourced" ingredients to carbon-offset packaging, food and beverage companies face multi-jurisdiction scrutiny on claims that are often made at speed and reviewed too late.
Label claims move faster than the evidence behind them
Ingredient claims applied at product level
Generic terms like 'natural' or 'sustainably sourced' are often used on finished products when the underlying certification covers a single ingredient or supplier. The claim scope on pack and the evidence scope on file do not match.
Offsets do not cover the full footprint
Carbon-neutral claims backed by reforestation offsets often sit on top of partial emissions accounting. The offset certificate may be real, but that does not by itself resolve whether the product claim is adequately supported.
Multi-jurisdiction, multi-SKU exposure
A single claim line appears across hundreds of SKUs in EU, UK, US, and APAC markets. Each jurisdiction applies a different substantiation standard. What clears in one regime may be misleading in another.
From ingredient certificate to on-pack claim, governed
Ingredient claim scoping
Link ingredient-level certifications to the specific SKUs and claim language they substantiate. Surfaces the mismatch before a generic claim reaches pack.
Multi-jurisdiction clearance
Each claim is assessed against EU ECGT, UK CMA Green Claims Code, and FTC Green Guides. Markets of sale are tracked at claim level, not brand level.
Lifecycle methodology tracking
Carbon-neutral, net-zero, and offset-backed claims are tracked against the methodology and disclosure expectations that apply in each market, including whether material emissions sources are missing.
Forward-looking claim controls
Claims that imply current status versus future targets are flagged. UK CMA Principle 1 requires accuracy at point of sale, not aspiration.
Scenario: a carbon-neutral product claim
A food and beverage enterprise is preparing to publish a carbon-neutral claim on consumer packaging. Here is the governance record for that claim.
“Carbon neutral product. Our carbon footprint is fully offset through certified reforestation.”
- 01
"Carbon neutral" is an absolute claim that relies on offsetting and a partial emissions calculation. In EU markets, offset-backed product neutrality claims now face direct restrictions under Directive (EU) 2024/825.
- 02
UK CMA Green Claims Code Principle 1: claim implies current status. Internal plan targets 2027 achievement. Temporal mismatch flagged.
- 03
In US markets, unqualified carbon-neutral wording can mislead if the basis of the claim, the role of offsets, and the covered emissions are not made clear.
- Verified
Gold Standard offset certificate GS-2024-44821, 12,200 tCO2e
- Verified
Scope 1 and 2 emissions audit (FY2023), third-party assured
- Pending
Scope 3 supply chain emissions. Agricultural sourcing not included in current calculation.
submitted for review
flagged Scope 3 gap, requested updated LCA
Scope 3 omission flagged. Offset certificate does not cover full footprint.
Food and beverage companies make environmental claims across hundreds of SKUs in multiple markets. Verdanox tracks each claim against the regulatory framework in force at the point of sale, flags evidence gaps before publication, and maintains an immutable audit trail for every approval decision.
The regulations that matter for your team
ECGT / Directive 2024/825
Broad environmental product claims and offset-backed product neutrality claims face tighter scrutiny under Directive (EU) 2024/825. Ingredient-level evidence also needs to match the scope of the on-pack wording.
FTC Green Guides (16 CFR Part 260)
The FTC Green Guides do not provide a safe harbour for unqualified carbon-neutral or net-zero wording. Clear substantiation and clarity about the basis of the claim remain critical, and the FTC has specifically reviewed carbon-offset issues.
CMA Green Claims Code
Claims must be accurate at the point of sale and should not imply current status if they describe future environmental performance. Supporting information must not be omitted.
See governance for your label claims.
Bring 2-3 on-pack claims from your current portfolio. We map them in the platform with the applicable certifications, offset evidence, and multi-jurisdiction regulatory context.
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