{"id":10877,"date":"2026-06-22T13:13:53","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T11:13:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/silac.ch\/sustainability-must-be-verifiable-silac-shows-how\/"},"modified":"2026-09-11T20:49:54","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T18:49:54","slug":"sustainability-must-be-verifiable-silac-shows-how","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/silac.ch\/en\/sustainability-must-be-verifiable-silac-shows-how\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainability Must Be Verifiable\u2014Silac Shows How"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anyone who labels packaging as \u201csustainable\u201d today will have to be able to prove it in the future. The EU is getting serious: Under the Empowering Consumers Directive (EmpCo), environmental claims without independent certification will be prohibited starting in 2026. Terms such as \u201cenvironmentally friendly,\u201d \u201cclimate-neutral,\u201d or \u201crecycled\u201d may then only be used if they are substantiated by a recognized, independently audited certification system. Companies that cannot provide such proof risk receiving warnings and suffering reputational damage. Silac is prepared\u2014and has successfully renewed its ISCC PLUS certification. <\/p>\n

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What Has Changed Since 2024<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Silac received ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) certification<\/a> for the first time in 2024. Since then, the landscape has changed: EU regulations on green claims are taking shape, pressure on companies is mounting, and ISCC<\/a> has introduced a new option for brand owners through its Licensing Scheme. Three good reasons to take a fresh look at this topic. <\/p>\n

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What ISCC PLUS Means\u2014and Why It’s More Than Just a Label<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Graphic: ISCC Plus Mass Balance Principle<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ISCC PLUS certification is a globally recognized, independent standard. It ensures that sustainable raw materials\u2014recycled or bio-based materials\u2014are traceable throughout the entire supply chain. <\/p>\n

At the heart of this is the mass balance principle: Sustainable and conventional raw materials can be combined in production, as long as the amount of sustainable material is fully documented and tracked throughout the entire supply chain. This ensures that, in the end, exactly what was declared sustainable at the outset is what arrives at the end. <\/p>\n

A key requirement here is that every link in the supply chain must be certified. A non-certified company may not pass on materials as ISCC-certified or issue corresponding sustainability declarations. Thanks to independent auditing, the system structurally prevents greenwashing. <\/p>\n

A key advantage over other sustainability labels: ISCC PLUS already meets the requirements of the EmpCo Directive<\/a>. The EU has recognized the system as an accredited certification scheme. For Silac\u2019s customers, this means that sustainability claims based on ISCC PLUS certification will be legally protected starting in 2026. <\/p>\n

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Annual recertification: a deliberate decision<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Photo: Silac ISCC Plus Certification<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

ISCC PLUS is not a one-time certification. It must be renewed every year through an independent audit conducted by an accredited certification body. The audit assesses traceability, quantity accounting, and compliance with chain-of-custody requirements. The annual renewal requires internal preparation, comprehensive documentation, and an external audit\u2014a process that many companies shy away from. <\/p>\n

Silac has nevertheless gone through the certification process again. For Managing Director Peter Birchler, this is a deliberate decision. <\/p>\n

“Not many companies in our industry go to this trouble. For us, it’s a clear sign that we take sustainability seriously\u2014and that we can prove it.”<\/p>\n

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What this means for our customers in concrete terms<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Photo: Medela’s ISCC-certified breast shield box, manufactured by Silac.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Certification is not just an internal matter. It has a direct impact on what Silac\u2019s customers receive and can communicate. Anyone who purchases products from Silac made from ISCC PLUS-certified materials benefits from: <\/p>\n