Governance & Policy
Self-Declared Environmental Claim
Definition
A self-declared environmental claim is an environmental statement, symbol or graphic made by the manufacturer, importer or retailer itself, without third-party certification — ISO 14021's "Type II" category. The standard sets requirements for claims such as "recyclable", "compostable" or "X% recycled content": they must be accurate, verifiable, specific, and not misleading, with vague terms like "environmentally friendly" discouraged absent qualification.
References
Source imported for editorial provenance.
This reference provides supporting context for how “Self-Declared Environmental Claim” is defined and used.
Overview
How it is used
The concept structures marketing compliance, ISO 14021 conformity, enforcement actions on greenwashing, and the design of substantiation files for environmental marketing.
Why it matters
Self-declared claims are where greenwashing lives; the rules governing them determine how much environmental marketing can be trusted.