Consumers no longer want promises; they want proof. A 2026 study found that 78% of consumers actively seek brands committed to sustainable practices, while 62% distrust vague or unsubstantiated environmental claims.i For manufacturers of consumer electronics, it is no longer enough to make sustainability-related statements; product attributes and related claims must be supported by credible, independent verification.
Consumer electronics are a constant presence in modern life. From charging cables to digital displays, electrical and electronic (E&E) products can be found in workplaces, homes and nearly every aspect of daily life. Performance and functionality remain key drivers of success in competitive E&E markets, but sustainability is no longer a niche market differentiator. Increasingly, regulators and consumers are asking questions such as:
- What materials are being used?
- Do they contain substances of concern (SoC)?
- Is recycled content genuine?
- Does the product have an environmental claim, and can I trust it?
Answering these questions credibly presents a significant business opportunity. Recent research found that 55% of consumers are willing to pay more for products from ethically led companies, highlighting the growing commercial value of transparent, evidence-based sustainability communication.[i]
For E&E manufacturers, this creates a new challenge. A sustainability claim is no longer enough; it must be backed by credible evidence. However, in an industry where many of the most important materials are hidden within cable jacketing, coatings, packaging materials and electronic components, demonstrating environmental attributes in a transparent and trustworthy way can be difficult. As scrutiny increases, manufacturers must provide clear evidence to support product claims and demonstrate material characteristics, meeting the expectations of consumers, retailers and regulators.
Looking beyond the label
A label only has value if it can be trusted. Environmental claims have become commonplace on consumer products, yet many remain vague, difficult to verify or unsupported by meaningful evidence. In some cases, claims can even mislead consumers, a practice commonly referred to as greenwashing. Simply describing a product as having environmental benefits is unlikely to build confidence unless the claim is supported by credible, science-based evidence and clearly defined assessment criteria.
This challenge is particularly relevant in the E&E sector, where consumers rarely see the materials hidden within a product. Two charging cables may appear identical and deliver the same performance yet be manufactured using very different materials with different environmental impacts. For example, cable jacketing is often made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a material that has come under increasing scrutiny due to concerns about its environmental and health impacts throughout its lifecycle.
Similarly, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), often referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ because of their persistence in the environment, are used across a wide range of industrial and consumer applications. Within the electronics sector, PFAS may be present in components such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), batteries, coatings, seals and semiconductors. Growing concerns about the potential impacts of certain PFAS on human health and the environment are driving increased regulatory scrutiny worldwide, with restrictions already in place for some substances and broader controls under consideration in the European Union.
In this environment, manufacturers face growing pressure not only to understand the materials used in their products, but also to communicate verified product attributes in a clear, credible and verifiable way.
From sustainability claims to substantiated product information
For brands, making sustainability claims is no longer the challenge. Proving them is. Marketing language is no replacement for trusted verification. Broad environmental statements should be replaced by claims relating to specific, verifiable product attributes. For example, a product that can legitimately claim to be free from PVC demonstrates a specific material characteristic, but this alone does not support broader environmental claims. Environmental performance is multifaceted and depends on a range of factors beyond a single material attribute. It is therefore safer and more credible to focus on claims around specific attributes that can be tested and supported by evidence.
Independent verification can help bridge this gap. Rather than relying on broad environmental statements, manufacturers can demonstrate specific product characteristics through testing, assessment and third-party verification. This provides greater confidence that claims are clear, measurable and supported by evidence.
The approach is particularly valuable within the E&E sector, where many sustainability attributes are not visible to the end user. Whether the focus is hazardous substances, recycled content or material composition, independent verification helps manufacturers communicate product attributes in a transparent and credible way.
As sustainability expectations continue to evolve, the ability to substantiate claims with credible evidence is becoming an increasingly important competitive advantage.
SGS solution
SGS green marks help manufacturers communicate specific environmental attributes through independent assessment, certification and verification of defined product characteristics. Relevant across the E&E industry, each mark focuses on a clearly defined product characteristic and includes details of the attribute being assessed, the applicable criteria and a QR code that enables stakeholders to access supporting information relating to the assessment.
By focusing on specific, verifiable attributes rather than broad environmental statements, a green mark enables a manufacturer to communicate product characteristics that have been independently assessed against defined criteria. This can help reduce the risk of greenwashing, increase transparency and provide stakeholders with greater confidence in product-related information.
The program can also help organizations support sustainability objectives and product transparency efforts while facilitating access to new customers and markets. In addition, we can provide testing, assessment, verification and certification services through a single global network, reducing the need to coordinate with multiple program owners, laboratories and assessment bodies.
In a market where sustainability claims are increasingly scrutinized, independent verification can help manufacturers move from promises to proof, providing greater confidence in the information presented on product labels and packaging.
For more information on SGS green marks, visit our website.
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[1] Sustainable Marketing: Why 78% of Consumers Care in 2026 (Marketing Sustainable Brands: 78% of Consumers Care in 2026)
© SGS Société Générale de Surveillance SA.
