From September 2026, new requirements around product transparency, claim substantiation and sustainability communication are reshaping how detergent formulations are developed and marketed.
Environmental and sustainability claims have become an important part of product marketing across many consumer categories. At the same time, concerns around greenwashing have led policymakers to introduce regulations that require manufacturers to substantiate and document their claims more rigorously.
Frameworks such as the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) and the Digital Product Passport (DPP) are moving from policy discussions into practical requirements. At the same time, the implementation of the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (EmpCo) from September 2026 increases scrutiny of environmental claims and places greater emphasis on reliable, verifiable evidence behind sustainability messaging.
The sustainability landscape is also becoming increasingly dynamic. Discussions now extend beyond carbon footprint to include topics such as circularity, worker rights, local sourcing, biodegradability, toxicity, and product performance. As priorities evolve, companies must be prepared to respond to changing expectations from regulators, customers, and consumers.
For manufacturers, this means that regulatory readiness is no longer something to monitor from a distance. It is becoming part of daily formulation decisions.
Taken together, these initiatives are shifting the focus from sustainability intentions to sustainability evidence. In simple terms:
Together, they create a more connected system where product design, documentation, sustainability claims and supporting data must be aligned, transparent and verifiable.
Looking for the official definitions?
Learn more from the European Commission about ESPR , Digital Product Passports and EmpCo .
The implications are practical rather than theoretical. These developments affect how formulations are designed and how information is managed. Key shifts include:
Importantly, these elements are interconnected. It is not enough to address one in isolation.
For many formulation teams, the difficulty is not the concept itself, but the execution. Typical challenges include:
These gaps are often only fully revealed when requirements become more formal.
It is tempting to approach ESPR, DPP and EmpCo as administrative or compliance tasks. In practice, they go further than that.
Formulation choices increasingly influence the ability to document and substantiate claims, the availability of consistent data, the traceability of materials, and the overall sustainability profile of a product. They also influence how confidently sustainability benefits can be communicated to customers and consumers.
This means that regulatory readiness is shaped early in the formulation process, not just at the end.
There is no single solution, but a structured approach can reduce complexity and risk. A starting point can be to:
In many cases, improvements do not require a full redesign. Targeted adjustments can address the most important gaps.
Companies that approach these developments early tend to gain more flexibility. They can adapt gradually, test alternatives, and align internal processes over time. Those that wait may face the need for faster and more extensive changes under tighter timelines.
In that sense, ESPR, EmpCo and the Digital Product Passport are not only regulatory frameworks. They are also signals of how the industry is evolving.
Understanding where your current formulation stands is often the most valuable first step.
Answering these questions helps clarify both risks and priorities.
To support this process, Borregaard has developed a Regulatory Readiness Assessment for detergent formulations. The tool provides a structured way to evaluate your current setup, identify gaps and define practical next steps
Take the assessment to understand where your formulation stands — and how to prepare for evolving requirements: