French Environmental Labelling 2025 Update

Key Changes and Implementation Guide

As the fashion industry enters a transformative era of environmental accountability, the implementation of French Environmental Labelling is creating a clear divide between industry leaders and followers.

Latest Developments in French Environmental Labelling

The latest developments in this groundbreaking initiative aren’t just about compliance.
In fact, they represent an unprecedented opportunity for companies to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and gain a competitive edge in an increasingly environmentally conscious market.

For brands operating in or expanding into the French market, the recent refinements to sustainability labelling in France offer a strategic advantage to those who act decisively.

Early adopters of these enhanced environmental impact scoring standards aren’t merely checking regulatory boxes. They are positioning themselves at the forefront of a global shift toward transparent, sustainable fashion.

With consumers increasingly making purchasing decisions based on environmental credentials, mastering these new requirements could be the differentiator that sets your brand or products apart in 2025 and beyond.

This update provides critical information about developments in the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology and the latest changes in regulatory requirements, specifically clarifying how the PEF methodology forms the basis for the French scoring system used in Affichage Environmental Labelling (Coût Environemental).

Both the PEF methodology and the French scoring system Coût Environnemental rely on the same dataset. However, they apply distinct methodologies to interpret the data and calculate scores. PEF provides a comprehensive lifecycle-based framework for apparel and footwear, utilizing 16 impact indicators along with Environmental Footprint (EF) weighting and normalization factors. It leverages a robust database of approximately 5,500 datasets and accounts for functional use (e.g., days of use) to derive its scores.

The 16 impact indicators

The French scoring system builds on PEF as a foundation but tailors its methodology to meet local regulatory requirements. It focuses exclusively on apparel, excludes specific materials such as silk, leather, and cashmere, and uses a much smaller database (~82 datasets).

It also incorporates additional elements not found in PEF, such as emotional durability, microfiber release, and pre-treatment and finishing impacts. Instead of directly accounting for functional use, the French scoring system uses durability multipliers and applies predefined scoring levels. Notably, Level-1 scores are always intentionally “reasonably worse” than Level-2.

Essentially, the French scoring system adapts PEF’s framework to fit its specific regulatory and practical needs, creating two different interpretations of the same dataset.

This update provides critical information about developments in Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) and the latest changes in regulatory requirements. For both newcomers and those already engaged with PEF for brands, understanding these updates is essential for successful environmental labelling compliance.

Recent Regulator Progress

The French government has demonstrated its renewed commitment to the French Environmental Score “Cout Environnemental” through recent decisive actions. On November 28, 2024, the Minister for Ecological Transition, Agnès Pannier-Runacher, launched a public consultation on the implementation decree, marking a crucial milestone in this journey.

Laurent Bocahut, our CEO at Peftrust, was honoured to attend and support this critical initiative, demonstrating our company’s dedication to advancing sustainable practices in the fashion industry. The consultation period, which concluded on December 19, 2024, allowed stakeholders across the industry to contribute their insights and concerns.

Implementation Timeline

The revised implementation schedule now includes:

Phase 1: Initial Compliance (Q2-Q3 2025)

* Mandatory registration for companies meeting turnover thresholds

* Implementation of data collection systems

* Integration with approved calculation platforms

* Staff training requirements

Phase 2: Full Implementation (Q4 2025)

* Mandatory environmental labeling for all clothing items

* Implementation of consumer-facing display requirements

* Integration with e-commerce platforms

* Establishment of verification procedures

Phase 3: Monitoring and Enforcement (2026 onwards)

* Regular audits of environmental claims

* Implementation of penalties for non-compliance

* Annual reporting requirements

* Continuous improvement mechanisms

Understanding the Three-Tier Framework

In a nutshell, the French Environmental labelling system introduces a sophisticated three-tier framework combining accessibility and precision. Each tier builds upon the previous level’s foundation, allowing companies to progressively enhance their environmental assessment capabilities.

Level 1: Foundation Assessment

The entry point leverages the Ecobalyse platform, examining:

* Material composition analysis

* Production location assessment

* Basic manufacturing process evaluation

Level 2: Advanced Evaluation

This intermediate tier incorporates more detailed Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) parameters, considering:

* Energy consumption patterns

* Water usage metrics

* Chemical input evaluation

* Transportation impact assessment

* Packaging lifecycle analysis

Level 3: Comprehensive Analysis

The highest tier provides the most detailed assessment through:

* Direct measurement systems

* Real-time monitoring

* Complete supply chain mapping

* Process optimisation analysis

* Waste management evaluation

Peftrust’s Enhanced Support Services

Since March 2024, Peftrust has been at the forefront of implementing the French Environmental Score, offering cutting-edge features that go beyond basic compliance. As a matter of fact, Our expertise in PEF for brands enables us to provide comprehensive support across all assessment levels.

Understanding and achieving Affichage environmental compliance becomes streamlined through our digital LCA platform, which integrates both the foundational PEF methodology and the specific requirements of the French system.

Next Steps for Businesses