BSI publishes guidance against greenwashing, food fraud

UK national standards body BSI has published a pair of new guidance documents, one to help ethical investors identify organisations that indulge in greenwashing and another providing technical advice in the fight against food fraud.

The guidance on greenwashing (PAS 7342:2025) – in which organisations make misleading claims about the environmental benefits of products or practices – sets out requirements for fund managers to design, manage, and communicate sustainable investment funds responsibly.

"In the UK, amidst a proliferation of sustainable fund labels and various attempts to codify what constitutes good sustainable investing, this standard is designed to [address] the critical gap and provide the clarity and consistency needed to help fund managers navigate this complexity," commented Daan van der Wekken, head of sector, sustainability, at BSI.

"This could be a key step in combating greenwashing in finance, accelerating progress towards a sustainable world by ensuring accountability in sustainable investments and helping investors make informed decisions," he added.

The food fraud guidance (BS EN 17972:2024), meanwhile, is designed to provide technical definitions related to authenticity and fraud in feed and food products with the aim of enabling "a more transparent and trustworthy food system that will benefit consumer safety."

A key aim of the guidance is to provide clarification on previously ambiguous terminology for claims and characteristics for food authenticity and fraud, establishing a clear basis for maintaining the integrity of food products. It outlines a hierarchy for classifying terms and concepts related to food authenticity and fraud.

"With food fraud continuing to present significant challenges for both manufacturers and consumers, the publication of this new standard marks a crucial step in ensuring the integrity of food products and ultimately enhancing consumer safety," said Emily Field, food sector lead at BSI.

"By providing clear definitions and a common framework, suppliers can strengthen the relationship between product characteristics and claims, enabling a more transparent, trustworthy food system."