SAI Platform has strengthened its approach to sustainability claims following a comprehensive review of its industry solutions against the requirements and expectations emerging from the EU Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (EmpCo). 

With EmpCo coming into application on 27 September 2026, organisations communicating about sustainability, environmental performance and regenerative agriculture are facing increased expectations around how environmental claims are substantiated and communicated. 

SAI Platform engaged sustainability and claims experts Nouterra to conduct a comprehensive gap analysis of the Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) and the Regenerating Together (RT) Framework against relevant developments under EmpCo and the wider EU regulatory landscape. 

The review found that the RT Framework is fully aligned with the core characteristics of certification schemes set out under EmpCo, including publicly available requirements, stakeholder consultation, procedures for addressing non-compliance and independent third-party verification.

The FSA is also fully aligned, having revised the requirements applicable to Verification Bodies participating in the FSA programme. Effective immediately, all applicant Verification Bodies are required to hold ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation. For full details on how SAI Platform’s industry solutions have been assessed against the relevant EmpCo requirements, members are invited to consult this document. 

The review forms part of a broader effort to ensure that communications linked to the FSA and RT framework remain credible, defensible and aligned with evolving regulatory expectations. The outcome is a strengthened approach to claims governance, helping users communicate sustainability progress with greater confidence and consistency.  

The claims guidance documents for both FSA and the RT framework have been updated and a new SAI Platform Claims Withdrawal Policy establishing clear processes for the approval, use, correction and withdrawal of claims has been implemented. The policy reinforces the principle that sustainability communications should be accurate, substantiated, transparent and consistent with the requirements of the relevant industry solution. 

To support members in navigating these regulatory developments, SAI Platform hosted a public webinar on September 17^th where experts from SAI Platform and Nouterra provided an overview of the EmpCo and Green Claims Directives, discussed what these developments mean for sustainability communications, and outlined good practice for communicating FSA and RT framework-related claims.  

While FSA and RT Framework claims can support the substantiation of environmental communications, organisations remain responsible for ensuring that their individual public-facing claims comply with applicable EU and national legislation. 

SAI Platform’s work on EmpCo reflects its continued commitment to credible, transparent and responsible sustainability communications as regulatory scrutiny of environmental claims increases.