The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) publishes a Green Claims Code specifically because vague environmental claims had become common enough to need a crackdown. The pattern to watch for is a broad, feel-good word β "eco," "green," "sustainable" β with nothing specific backing it up: no named certification, no stated percentage, no supply-chain detail. A genuinely checkable claim looks different: "packaging made from 80% recycled cardboard," "palm-oil-free, verified by [named ingredient audit]," or a real, named certification logo you can look up independently. None of this means every brand using soft language is being deceptive, but it does mean that a specific, checkable claim is worth more than a comforting adjective, and it is reasonable to expect UK brands to be able to back up what they say if asked.
What does "eco-friendly" actually mean on a soap label?
Nothing specific in most cases β it is not a regulated term, unlike a genuinely certified claim such as "certified organic" or a verifiable "palm oil free" supply-chain statement.
Published 7 July 2026

