From 27 September 2026, the provisions introduced by Legislative Decree No. 30 of 20 February 2026, transposing Directive (EU) 2024/825, known as the Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (EmpCo) Directive, will become applicable in Italy. The legislation aims to strengthen consumer protection and combat greenwashing by introducing stricter rules for environmental claims about products and services.

The new provisions apply to all businesses operating in the B2C market and cover packaging, labels, websites, catalogues, advertising and, more generally, all forms of commercial communication directed at consumers.

What Is the Empowering Consumers Directive?

Directive (EU) 2024/825 is one of the tools the European Union uses to promote a transition towards more sustainable consumption patterns. Its aim is to ensure that consumers can make informed choices based on reliable, verifiable, and comparable environmental information, reducing the risk of misleading messages or claims that are not adequately supported by evidence.

The Directive introduces a broader definition of “green claims”, covering any message, symbol, image, label or statement that asserts or implies that a product, packaging, brand or company has a positive environmental impact, is less harmful than equivalent alternatives, or has improved its environmental performance over time.

The underlying principle is that environmental claims must be clear, specific, and unambiguous, and must be supported by adequate, verifiable evidence. It is not only the ability to substantiate a claim that matters, but also how it is communicated and perceived by consumers.

Stop to Generic Environmental Claims

One of the key changes concerns so-called generic environmental claims, meaning expressions that suggest general environmental superiority without providing specific, verifiable information. Terms such as “green”, “eco-friendly”, “sustainable”, “environmentally friendly” and similar wording can no longer be used as mere promotional slogans. The legislation restricts the use of generic environmental claims that are not accompanied by adequate evidence to substantiate their meaning and scope.

For businesses, it is therefore essential to use specific, measurable statements supported by documented evidence. For example, communications that describe a product’s or packaging’s environmental characteristics in concrete terms are more consistent with the new approach. These may include the presence of recycled materials, a quantified reduction in environmental impacts, or the recyclability of packaging within the available waste collection systems.

Stricter Controls on Environmental Labels and Symbols

The Directive also introduces new rules for sustainability labels and symbols used to communicate environmental benefits.

In particular, the display of sustainability labels that are not based on recognised certification schemes or established by public authorities is prohibited. The aim is to limit the proliferation of self-declared labels and symbols that may confuse consumers and undermine the comparability of environmental information.
Companies will therefore need to carefully verify the compliance of the sustainability labels, logos, and environmental symbols used in their communications.

Beware of Climate Claims

The legislation also introduces provisions to ensure greater transparency and accuracy in claims relating to greenhouse gas emissions. The Directive restricts the use of statements such as “carbon neutral”, “climate neutral”, “zero climate impact” and equivalent expressions when these results are achieved solely through greenhouse gas emission offsetting mechanisms.

No Exaggerating or Overstating Limited Environmental Benefits

The new provisions also address how environmental information is presented. It will no longer be possible to attribute environmental benefits to an entire product or package when they apply only to one component or a specific stage of its life cycle. Similarly, businesses will not be able to present compliance with existing legal requirements as a distinctive feature of their offering.

Implications for Businesses

The entry into application of the legislation requires companies to thoroughly review their environmental communications.

Packaging, etichette, campagne pubblicitarie, siti internet, cataloghi, materiali promozionali e contenuti digitali dovranno essere riesaminati per assicurare che i claim utilizzati siano chiari, specifici, verificabili e supportati da adeguata documentazione. Sarà inoltre necessario rafforzare il coordinamento tra funzioni marketing, sostenibilità, affari regolatori e compliance, al fine di garantire processi efficaci di validazione delle informazioni ambientali.

A Key Issue for the Packaging Industry

Per il settore degli imballaggi, le nuove regole si inseriscono in un quadro normativo europeo sempre più orientato alla trasparenza e all’affidabilità delle informazioni ambientali. La corretta comunicazione delle caratteristiche degli imballaggi rappresenta infatti uno strumento essenziale per supportare scelte consapevoli dei consumatori e valorizzare in modo credibile gli investimenti delle imprese nell’economia circolare.

The implementation of the EmpCo Directive marks an important step towards clearer, better-documented, and more comparable environmental communication, where the credibility of information becomes a key element in the relationship between businesses and consumers.

For further insights and information, please visit www.etichetta-conai.com.

Why Is Certification Important?

Certifications make it possible to verify specific material properties against internationally recognized standards. For those developing a product, they provide a practical tool for objectively evaluating materials and making better-informed decisions. And today, the verification of sustainability claims is more relevant than ever.

From 27 September 2026, a more explicit and stringent European framework on sustainability claims will come into effect. The new legislation introduces more specific definitions and rules for environmental claims, sustainability labels, and certification schemes, reinforcing the need for every claim to be consistent with the evidence and documentation supporting it.

The MEBA Data Point

Our bioresins contain 41% bio-based carbon, validated by UL in accordance with ASTM D6866, Method B. This verified data provides a tangible reference point for those developing and selecting materials.
However, being bio-based does not automatically mean having a low environmental impact. That is why we complement bio-based content verification with a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, in accordance with ISO 14040/44 and ISO 14067 standards, to evaluate environmental impacts throughout the product’s life cycle.

The LCA study shows a 24.4% reduction in climate change impact compared with standard resin: 4.33 kg CO₂e/kg for the bioresin versus 5.73 kg CO₂e/kg for standard resin.

The Questions That Make a Difference

Quando ti propongono un materiale bio, non fermarti alla prima dichiarazione. Poni qualche domanda e chiedi certificazioni ed evidenze che la supportino. È misurabile? È verificabile? La documentazione riguarda il materiale che sto acquistando? E quali informazioni ho sul suo impatto ambientale? Perché, senza dati e prove a supporto, la parola bio da sola dice poco.

Let’s Talk About Your Project

Are you developing a product and would like to learn more about the properties, certifications, and potential applications of our bioresins?
Contact us at info@mebabioresine.it or call +39 0523 524291. We’ll be happy to discuss your project and identify the solution that best meets your needs.

Brief company description

MEBA BIORESINE SB Srl is founded on the union of MEBA SAS, a historic company active in the production of resin materials for the fashion and design world, and AXIAINVESTMENT Srl, an investment company in the form of a club deal established with the support of AXIA-NET, a firm specialized in engaging temporary managers.
The company is distinguished today by its production of certified bio-based materials and finished components, with a premium positioning oriented toward the premium and luxury segment, and increasingly focused on sustainability, transparency, and short supply chains. The path undertaken is guided by progressive vertical integration of the offering and continuous research and development activity, key elements to support the evolution of the market and reference brands.

How was Meba Bioresine SB Srl founded and what does it do?

MEBA SAS was founded as a family business, with a strong manufacturing vocation and specialization in the production of polyester resin sheets and rods primarily intended for the button industry. For decades we operated as an industrial partner for processors and manufacturers, building highly vertical technical expertise.

In recent years we have undertaken an important sustainability-oriented journey, developing—uniquely in Europe—a biopolymer derived from renewable sources and certified, designed for the fashion and design market, which has begun to demand solutions with these characteristics.
Today this experience represents the foundation on which we have built a broader evolution toward sustainable materials and finished products.

What were the motivations for which you decided to undertake the path of opening up equity?

The choice stems from a strategic need: to accelerate a transformation process already underway. The market today demands innovation, certified sustainability, and the ability to engage directly with brands. To address this phase requires resources, experience, and structure.

Opening up equity allowed us to combine entrepreneurial dimension with a more industrial and financial logic, while maintaining continuity in leadership and values. To grow and move beyond an exclusively family-based logic, the support of a new partner capable of bringing greater structure, organization, and the ability to plan significant multi-year investments was necessary.

Furthermore, in family businesses a difficulty can emerge in decision-making processes, related to the absence of a clearly recognized decision center: the entry of an external partner has contributed to making the process more defined, rapid, and effective.

What are the most difficult things to face before and after?

In the pre-phase, the main difficulty is cultural: accepting to question a model that has worked for years and translate it into a language understandable to external investors. It also means preparing employees for change and, no less important, accompanying the entire family in accepting a new phase after years of autonomous management.
In the post-phase, the challenge becomes execution: rapidly transforming plans into results, while managing greater complexity, reporting, and expectations. On a personal level, the way of working also changes significantly: one must relate to new figures within the structure and share steps and decisions that were previously made in complete autonomy.

An important aspect in equity opening operations is certainly that related to governance—how did you address it in your case?

We worked to build clear governance, with defined roles and a balance between entrepreneurial vision and managerial discipline.
The introduction of a structured board of directors and formal moments of discussion has improved the quality of decisions, without compromising operational flexibility.
The key was to see governance not as a constraint, but as a tool for growth and control. Operationally, one quickly realizes that sharing responsibilities represents an enormous driver: it allows distributing the weight of decisions, integrating different points of view, and reducing the risk that strategic choices depend exclusively on the intuition of the individual entrepreneur.

Strengths and weaknesses: what are the main differences between a financial partner and an industrial partner?

The financial partner brings method, discipline, and strong attention to value creation in the medium term. They are less operationally involved, but highly focused on numbers, processes, and scalability.
The industrial partner, instead, contributes operational expertise, market knowledge, and concrete synergies, but may have a vision more oriented toward their own business.
Beyond the differences, the most interesting aspect is the continuous exchange of expertise that is created: the entrepreneur brings market knowledge, intuition, and experience built over time; managers contribute method and tools, working to identify the most effective path to achieve objectives. It is precisely in this balance that value is generated.

From entrepreneur to entrepreneur: advice for approaching equity opening operations.

Arrive prepared and, above all, have a clear project in which to believe deeply—almost contagiously.
Not only in the numbers, but in the vision: knowing where you want to go, why, and being truly convinced of the objective. It is this conviction that allows aligning the right people along the path.
Opening up equity is not a finish line, but the beginning of a more complex and structured phase, which requires greater discipline and execution capacity, but which can prove extremely stimulating and exciting.

MEBA BIORESINE chose Édition Spéciale because it is the ideal stage for those who, like us, believe that luxury must lead the ecological transition. As a company with over 50 years of history, we feel the responsibility to offer concrete solutions to a market that today seeks not only aesthetics, but transparency and responsibility. Being here allows us to connect with leading international brands that view packaging and accessories as key elements for communicating their sustainability values.

Which sustainable innovation are you particularly highlighting this year?

This year, the focus is on MEBA BIORESINE®, our cutting-edge biopolymer composed of biomass and raw materials from renewable sources, such as corn starch waste, sugar cane, and vegetable oils. The main innovation we are presenting is our certified technological leadership: we are currently the only company in the resin sector to hold the international and independent **UL (Underwriters Laboratories)**validation.

This attests to a bio-based content of 41% through ASTM 6866 analysis, a value twice the minimum required by European standards.

Our distinguishing factor is scientific measurability. In parallel, we are developing comparative LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) analyses with SGS to objectively quantify the reduction of the carbon footprint compared to standard polymers. This allows our customers not only to use a sustainable material but to prove it with verifiable data.

How do you reconcile luxury requirements with reducing environmental impact?

Our philosophy is “Same quality, different origin.”

We demonstrate that it is not necessary to compromise between beauty and sustainability: our bio-resins maintain the same aesthetic standards, flexibility, and customization capabilities as traditional resins. Luxury requires aesthetic excellence, creative freedom, and perceived quality.

Our MEBA BIORESINE® allow us to replicate—and often exceed—these standards thanks to latest-generation studies and technologies. We offer total customization in terms of color and pattern (reproducing natural effects such as mother-of-pearl, horn, or semi-precious stones) without additional mold costs, guaranteeing a controlled and 100% “Made in Italy” supply chain.

Reducing environmental impact does not mean reducing value, but redefining its foundations: from the raw material to transparency for the final consumer.

How does participating in this event align with MEBA Bioresine’s strategy around bio-based materials and sustainable innovation?

This event is the natural place to position ourselves as a strategic partner for brands looking to decarbonize their supply chain, transforming every single cap into a manifesto of innovation and circular design. Our strategy focuses precisely on this: combining the historical heritage of our resin with the scientific innovation of biopolymers to lead the market toward environmental neutrality.

Our strategy aims to support brands in their decarbonization journey, providing them with a competitive advantage: accessories and components (e.g., caps) that elevate the value of the finished product while guaranteeing a reduced and certified environmental impact.

What types of brands, partners, or collaborations are you hoping to connect with during the event?

We are looking for visionary brands in the artistic perfumery sector, as well as international fashion and interior design brands seeking a distinctive and sustainable aesthetic for their collections. We are ready to collaborate with creative directors and packaging managers looking for tailor-made solutions. We are here to transform their ideas into tactile, precious objects that enhance their brand identity. We offer our ability to create unique effects and colors and follow the entire production process—from the creative idea to final production—with the guarantee of 100% Made in Italy quality. We want to connect with those who believe that the future of luxury lies in the details: small components that tell great stories of innovation and respect for the planet.

MEBA SAS was a family-run business with a history spanning over 60 years, built on passion, expertise, and innovation across four generations. Today, that story continues, with an even broader vision.

Where We Are Today

Since February, we have embarked on an important journey of transformation. A significant milestone was the entry of AXIAINVESTMENT Srl, an investment company established with the support of AXIA-NET, specialising in the engagement of interim managers.

This operation marks the birth of MEBA BIORESINE® Società Benefit. For us, this does not mean changing who we are, but strengthening the values we have always believed in: quality, innovation, sustainability, and care for people.
Our goal is to continue growing, offering our customers an increasingly personalised service and creating lasting value. Every change brings new challenges and opportunities. We have chosen to embrace them with the same enthusiasm and passion that have driven MEBA for over sixty years.

Grazie per essere parte di questo percorso!

A club deal of investors from Veneto, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna supports the growth of the historic Piacenza-based company, with the aim of strengthening its industrial development and presence in international markets. The operation was promoted by the Spazio Crescita project of Confindustria Piacenza.

After more than 60 years of family history, Meba Sas announces a major strategic operation aimed at supporting its growth path and facing the challenges of national and international markets with renewed solidity. On January 30, 2026, Meba Bioresine Società Benefit Srl was established, a new company into which the operational business unit of Meba Sas, a historic Piacenza-based company specializing in the production and development of biopolymers for the fashion and design market, was merged. The capital of Meba Bioresine Società Benefit Srl is held by Meba Sas and Axia Investment Srl, an industrial investment vehicle structured as a club deal and promoted by the AxiaNet group, which brings together investors—managers and entrepreneurs—from Veneto, Lombardy, and Emilia-Romagna.

Axia Investment’s entry into the capital of the new company represents a key step in strengthening the company’s organizational and financial structure and supporting an industrial development plan oriented toward innovation and sustainability. In particular, the operation aims to further enhance Meba’s know-how in the field of bio-resins, materials intended for the fashion accessories and design sectors, which are increasingly in demand for their contribution to reducing the environmental impact of production chains and for their aesthetic and application uniqueness. “This path represents a natural evolution of our company,” comments Gianluca Sclavi, CEO of Meba Bioresine. “The entry of an industrial partner like Axia Investment will allow us to accelerate technological and commercial development, keeping the values that have always guided our company at the center and taking on the significant challenge of market diversification.” As part of the new governance, Andrea Moneta, founding partner of AxiaNet, representing Axia Investment, joins the company’s Board of Directors.

The decision to establish Meba Bioresine as a Benefit Corporation further reinforces the company’s commitment to integrating environmental sustainability and social responsibility goals into its business model, formalizing the desire to generate shared value for the territory, employees, and the entire supply chain. The operation, promoted by Confindustria Piacenza within the “Spazio Crescita” program, saw Meba Sas supported by Studio Guidotti of Piacenza. The company thanks Studio Rossi
& Partner of Verona, the AxiaNet working group led by Davide Andreoli, and the notary Dr. Marco Massa of the Abm Notai firm in Brescia, for their important professional contribution to the structuring and realization of the operation. “We thank everyone who has accompanied us to this milestone and who will continue to support us in this new and significant phase of development, with the goal of consolidating the company’s presence in the markets and strengthening its innovation path,” said Gianluca Sclavi.