Environmental claims verification under ISO 14021
Send an enquiry →In line with the third edition of the standard: ISO 14021:2026 of June 2026
We check claims such as recyclable, recycled content, compostable and others
A report ready for customers, retailers and EU rules
From the review of your claims to the final report in 2–4 weeks
Talk to us about checking your claims against ISO 14021:2026.
What is a check against ISO 14021:2026?
Verification under ISO 14021 is an independent check that your company's own green claims meet the standard. The standard calls them self-declared environmental claims. They are also called Type II claims. We check claims such as “recyclable”, “recycled content” or “reduced energy use”. We look at the wording, the basis, the evidence and how the claim is shown, including symbols such as the Möbius loop.
The third edition, published in June 2026, replaced ISO 14021:2016 and made the rules stricter. Every claim must now be part of a written claims programme, with set criteria, methods and roles. The company must keep the records that prove its claims are true. One good source of such data is a life cycle assessment (LCA).
National catalogues may lag behind. In Poland, for example, PN-EN ISO 14021:2016-06 with amendment A1:2021 is still listed as current. The third edition is not yet a national standard. We check against the third edition, because it sets the rules that customers, retailers and regulators will expect.
Who needs a check against ISO 14021?
A green claim is a specific statement on a pack, a label, in a catalogue or on a product page. If any of the claims below sounds familiar, the standard applies to you.
Packaging
“Recyclable”
“Contains 30% recycled material”
“Industrially compostable”
Construction and materials
“Longer-lasting product”
“Designed for disassembly”
Electronics and appliances
“30% lower energy use”
“Housing made from post-consumer recycled material”
“Repairable: spare parts for 10 years”
Textiles and fashion
“25% recycled fibres”
“Water-saving dyeing”
“Material from renewable sources”
Chemicals and cosmetics
“Biodegradable in 180 days”
“Refillable packaging”
“Less water used in production”
Industry and components
“Made with renewable energy”
“15% less resource use”
“Energy recovered in the process”
A check matters most for:
makers that talk about the green features of products and packs on labels, in catalogues and in marketing,
companies whose customers or retailers ask them to prove their green claims,
companies getting ready for the EU bans on some green claims: Directive 2024/825 (EmpCo) applies from 27 September 2026,
companies that use claims under ISO 14021:2016 and must adapt them to the new edition.
Rules are getting stricter and consumers are more aware. So a claim checked by an outside party is becoming a must for credible product messages.
How does a check against ISO 14021:2026 work?
At EXERGY, the check has three stages:
Review of claims
We look at all your green claims: labels, packs, product pages and marketing. We find the claims the standard covers and any wording that is not allowed.
Review of evidence
We check the evidence for each claim: data, sums, methods and the claims programme that ISO 14021:2026 requires. We point out gaps and problems.
Verification report
We issue a report on how your claims meet ISO 14021:2026, with findings and advice. You can show it to customers, retailers and regulators.
The standard says every green claim must be accurate, verifiable, relevant to the product and not misleading. The evidence must be available to anyone with an interest who asks for it.
What do we check?
We check three areas that decide whether your claims meet ISO 14021:2026. They range from the wording of single claims to the claims programme the new edition requires.
Wording of claims
Whether the wording matches the definitions in the standard: “recycled content”, “recyclable”, “compostable”, “degradable” and more than ten other defined claims.
Evidence and calculations
Figures, methods and the basis of comparison for claims such as “energy use cut by X%”, and whether the evidence is complete.
Programme and labelling
A written claims programme (new in the 2026 edition) and the right use of symbols, including the Möbius loop and percentages.
A claim without evidence is a risk to your image, your sales and your legal position. A check shows the weak points before a customer, a competitor or a regulator does.
What data do we need?
What are the benefits of a check against ISO 14021?
A green claim checked by an outside party has real business value:
Legal safety
A check lowers the risk of greenwashing claims and of fines under EU rules on green claims.
Customer trust
An outside check of your claims builds the trust of consumers, retailers and supply chain partners.
A marketing edge
You can talk about checked green features where competitors without evidence must stay silent.
In line with the new edition
The report confirms that your claims meet ISO 14021:2026, including the new written claims programme.
Ready for market demands
The report answers customer questions, tender rules and second-party audits.
Why work with EXERGY on ISO 14021?
Independent and thorough
We check your claims as an independent third party, based on the evidence: the documents, data and sums your company provides.
Full support
We offer the full range: LCA and product carbon footprint, ISO 14021 claims checks, EPDs and support for green communication.
Strong track record
We have done studies and checks since 2017. Many specialists on the market trained with us.
On time
In 2024, we finished 65 of 74 projects ahead of schedule.
How do we work with you?
First call
You talk to our specialist. We list the products and claims to check and agree the scope and the list of documents.
Proposal
Within one working day, we send you a proposal with the scope, schedule and price.
Checking the claims
Our team checks the wording of the claims, the evidence and the claims programme against ISO 14021:2026.
Verification report
You get a report with findings and advice, to use with customers, retailers and regulators.
Meet the team
Experienced EXERGY specialists run every project with our own proven methods. We do not give consulting work to subcontractors. We have worked in this field since 2017.
Meet the team →Let's talk about checking your green claims
Do you want to be sure that your product claims meet ISO 14021:2026 and stand up to greenwashing charges?
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See also
Environmental Product Declaration (EPD)
A verified Type III declaration under ISO 14025 and EN 15804.
Type I, II and III: what is the difference?
A guide to green labels and declarations: ecolabels, self-declared claims and EPDs.
PEF: Product Environmental Footprint
The environmental footprint of a product under the European Commission method.
LCA: life cycle assessment
A life cycle study: the basis for reliable green claims.