Greenwashing Checker: spot the risks in your communications
Test your website texts for vague, unsubstantiated or misleading environmental claims – before someone else does.
Greenwashing is when a company appears more environmentally friendly than it can substantiate. A greenwashing checker helps you find those claims before they become a risk – for example through competition warnings under unfair commercial practice rules.
Typical greenwashing patterns
- Vague wording without evidence: “eco-friendly”, “green”, “eco”.
- Climate neutrality through offsetting instead of your own reductions.
- Own labels without independent third-party certification.
- A partial aspect presented as a property of the whole company.
- Legal obligations advertised as something special.
Three ground rules to avoid greenwashing
- Concrete instead of generic: what exactly, to what extent, since when?
- Substantiated instead of asserted: every claim needs documented evidence.
- Avoidance before offsetting: communicate reductions separately from compensation.
Example: before / after
Vorher
„Stay with us climate neutral.“
Nachher
„We cut our emissions by 22 % in 2025. Remaining emissions are supported through a climate protection project – that does not make your stay climate neutral.“
Figures are placeholders. Keep offsetting separate from reduction.
Frequently asked questions
Is greenwashing an offence?
Misleading environmental advertising can trigger competition warnings. The EmpCo Directive expressly classifies certain practices as unfair.
Does VERDAI also detect images and labels?
VERDAI recognises well-known sustainability labels and flags pseudo-official markings.
Is the result a certification?
No. VERDAI provides orientation and documents the assessment, but does not issue certificates.
Get your claims assessed
Start with the free relevance check or try VERDAI for 7 days.
VERDAI is an independent orientation tool and does not replace legal advice.
🍪 Cookies & privacy
We use cookies to keep VERDAI running and to improve the experience. Necessary cookies are always active. You decide about everything else.