Proving environmental claims for China-made goods
Match each environmental claim to evidence for the actual goods, materials and production batches. State exactly what the claim covers, verify the supporting records and review packaging and sales copy before release and after changes. Supplier assurances alone leave gaps. Cambridge China Bridge can coordinate evidence collection with its own staff in China.
Define the claim before asking for proof
Write down the exact proposed wording and where it will appear. Specify whether it concerns the product, a component, packaging or a production stage. CMA guidance says claims about a particular life-cycle stage should identify that scope and avoid misleading consumers about the overall environmental impact.
Prefer a specific material statement supported by records over a broad description such as ‘environmentally friendly’. For a comparison, name the comparator and retain the measurement method and baseline evidence. CMA guidance calls for comparisons based on clear, current and objective information.
Build an order-specific supplier evidence file
Ask for material specifications, composition records, raw-material purchase documents, batch references and relevant test reports. Record the factory, material supplier and product version each document covers. For recycled-content claims, trace the claimed material through purchasing and production records to the goods ordered. Keep original documents alongside translations and note unresolved gaps.
CMA guidance expects robust, credible, relevant and current evidence. A supplier brochure or certificate with an unclear scope is a starting point for questions. Check the actual production site using the factory audit guide. Use the ethical audit guide for social-audit questions; separately establish what supports the product claim.
Verify what the documents actually demonstrate
Confirm report authenticity with the issuer using independently obtained contact details. Check the sample description, material, test method, result and limitations against your specification. Ask a suitable laboratory or specialist whether the proposed method can establish the claimed property. A composition test may leave the origin of recycled material unresolved, so also examine traceability records.
CMA guidance says independent scrutiny can help establish robust evidence, particularly for complex claims. It also warns that laboratory conditions may not reflect normal consumer use. For biodegradability or compostability wording, establish the disposal conditions tested and whether consumers can realistically achieve them. If records are confidential, ask for independent verification covering the exact claim.
Review packaging and every sales channel
Review the complete pack artwork, product title, website, marketplace listing, retailer copy and imagery together. CMA guidance treats presentation and omissions as part of making a claim. Keep important qualifications beside the claim: for example, identify the packaging component concerned or explain that composting requires specialist processing. Supporting detail online should not replace information needed to understand the headline.
Check the physical packaging against the approved artwork and material specification before printing or shipment. Keep packaging administration separate from marketing approval. The Plastic Packaging Tax guide and packaging EPR guide cover those obligations; use this evidence review to decide what you can say about the packaging.
Approve, retain and revisit the claim
Create a claim register containing approved wording, applicable products and batches, supporting documents, limitations, reviewer and review date. Release artwork and listings only after the reviewer resolves evidence gaps. If proof remains insufficient, remove or narrow the wording rather than relying on the factory’s assurance. Retain the approved artwork and evidence together.
CMA supply-chain guidance recommends regular review, correction of inaccurate claims and keeping retailers informed. Trigger a fresh review when materials, suppliers, production sites, packaging or verification methods change. Send retailers replacement copy and check that listings are updated. Cambridge China Bridge’s own staff in China can coordinate supplier records and production checks for that review.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Chinese supplier’s declaration enough?
Treat it as part of the evidence file. Check what product and batch it covers, request supporting records and resolve gaps before approving the claim.
Can I call a product environmentally friendly?
CMA guidance says broad claims suggest an overall environmental benefit and need thorough life-cycle assessment. Prefer narrower wording that your evidence supports.
Do environmental claims need independent testing?
Choose verification to suit the claim. Testing can establish some properties; provenance may need traceability records. CMA guidance says independent scrutiny can help with complex claims.
When should I review a green claim?
Review it regularly and whenever materials, suppliers, sites, packaging or evidence change. Correct inaccurate wording and inform retailers using it.