How the EU Regulates Retail Marketing Practices to Promote Sustainable Consumption
A practical look at the fight against greenwashing and unfair marketing practices
- Upcoming events
With the EU Green Deal reshaping the way products and services are marketed, understanding how consumer law regulates sustainability claims is more important than ever. This online seminar will offer a clear and practice-oriented overview of how EU legislation is used to fight misleading marketing practices – from exaggerated green claims to premature obsolescence – and how national authorities coordinate their enforcement actions against multinational companies.
Key details
Marie-Paule Benassi
Marie-Paule Benassi
Event type: Online seminar – 2 hours, with Q&A
Date: Wednesday, 28 January 2026, 16:00 CET
Language: English
The event will be hosted online, participation is free, but registration is required.
Objectives:
- Rapidly review the main provisions of EU consumer law regulating sustainability-related marketing claims and after-sales practices.
- Understand how the European Commission coordinates enforcement actions across Member States.
- Analyse real-life examples of greenwashing and how they were addressed.
- Discuss how businesses can improve their marketing practices to comply with EU law.
- Explore best practices for promoting sustainable products and services responsibly
Content Overview:
- Quick recap of the EU legislative process and its connection to national laws
- Introduction to core consumer law concepts: consumer definition, unfairness, and professional diligence.
- Examination of key legislative acts.
- Study of real-life case studies:
– Misleading green claims in clothing e-commerce
– Recycling claims for plastic bottles
– Premature obsolescence in gaming devices
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
Understand how EU and national laws influence consumer decisions toward sustainable products. 
Reflect on the relationship between consumer law, sustainability, and product standards.
Gain insight into the role of consumer authorities and their cooperation in cross-border enforcement.
Apply knowledge to real case studies of misleading sustainability claims and product design practices.
