University of Ferrara and KU Leuven (CCM) are pleased to announce
Greenwashing – opportunities and challenges of the new EU rules
Friday 14 June 2024 – Leuven (Zeger Van Hee) & livestream
Organizers: Alberto De Franceschi – Bert Keirsbilck – Evelyne Terryn
With the support of: ELI Sustainability and Environmental Law Special Interest Group
9:00 Welcome address: Green by Default and Green by Design
Alberto De Franceschi – Bert Keirsbilck – Evelyne Terryn
I. State of play of the new EU rules: scope, main elements and interaction
Chair: Alberto De Franceschi (University of Ferrara)
9:10 The Proposal for a Green Claims Directive
Evelyne Terryn (KU Leuven)
9:25 Directive (EU) 2024/825 as regards Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition
Bert Keirsbilck (KU Leuven)
II. Greenwashing or greenhushing – how to communicate sustainability efforts?
Chair: Alberto De Franceschi, University of Ferrara
9:40 Generic Claims – can they still be made?
Paul Verbruggen (University of Tilburg)
10:00 Can ‘eco’ brands (trademarks) and company names survive?
Pieter Callens (Eubelius)
10:20 Coffee break
10:45 Carbon neutral claims & claims related to future environmental performance – can they still be made?
Elias Van Gool (KU Leuven)
11:05 The challenge to regulate voluntary carbon credits
Denis Voinot (Université de Lille)
11:25 Are labels the solution? Ecolabel / Private Label / Public Schemes / Ecoscore
Elisa Paredis (KU Leuven)
11:45 Questions and Debate
12:15 Sandwich lunch
III. Enforcement ex ante versus ex post
Chair: Evelyne Terryn (KU Leuven)
13:30 Substantiation / ex ante verification – point of view of the enforcers in selected EU member states
Italy: Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato – dr. Paolo Cassini
The Netherlands: Autoriteit Consument & Markt – Tommi Palumbo
Belgium: FPS Economy – Melissa Kekenbosch – Ruben Verstraete
IV. Voluntary versus mandatory sustainability communication & competition law challenges
14:30 How can mandatory reporting / due diligence obligations help in sustainability marketing?
Estelle Irambona (KU Leuven)
14:50 Coffee break
15:30 Link between ecodesign and voluntary claims
Alberto De Franceschi (University of Ferrara)
15:40 Greenwashing in competition law
Liesbet Van Acker (KU Leuven)
V. Stakeholder Panel – Debate
Chair: Bert Keirsbilck (KU Leuven)
16:00 Stakeholder Panel
Willem Melis – Climate neutral group – Blanca Morales (BEUC) – Nora Veerman (Volkskrant)
Concluding remarks
17:00 Alberto De Franceschi – Bert Keirsbilck – Evelyne Terryn