You chose the more expensive option because the packaging said "climate-neutral" or "eco-friendly". Then you found out that nothing specific stands behind that promise. That is called greenwashing, and you can already defend yourself against it today, even though the new European rules are only now heading into Czech law.
The new rules are not in force yet
European Directive (EU) 2024/825 tightens what a company may claim about the environmental qualities of its goods. It bans generic labels such as "eco" or "green" without evidence, climate-neutrality claims based solely on emission offsets, and sustainability marks that are not backed by a certification scheme.
This is to be transposed into Czech law by an amendment to the Consumer Protection Act and the Civil Code, listed in the Chamber of Deputies (Poslanecká sněmovna) as print 53. The government submitted it on 8 December 2025, the second reading took place on 24 June 2026, and as of mid-September 2026 the bill is still waiting for the third reading. The deadline for transposing the directive, 27 March 2026, has already passed, and the directive expects the new rules to apply from 27 September 2026. Until the amendment completes the full legislative process, you will not find the expanded list of banned claims in Czech law.
A misleading claim is an unfair practice even without the amendment
You do not have to wait for the amendment, though. Act No. 634/1992 Coll., on Consumer Protection, already treats misleading promises as an unfair commercial practice. Under Section 5 it is a misleading action, meaning a false or misleading statement that influences your decision to buy. Under Section 5a it is a misleading omission, where the seller withholds information you would need for that decision.
A "produced sustainably" label with nothing verifiable behind it falls into this category.
Two options that follow from this for you
Section 5d of the Consumer Protection Act covers this. A consumer whose right has been affected by an unfair commercial practice may, in addition to claims under the Civil Code:
- withdraw from the contract within 90 days of the date the contract was concluded, or
- demand a reasonable price reduction in an amount matching the nature and seriousness of the unfair commercial practice.
Ninety days is substantially more than the 14-day period for returning goods bought from an e-shop. Watch when the clock starts, though: it runs from the conclusion of the contract, not from the day you realised the claim did not add up.
The law adds a limit to this. Withdrawal is not available if the seller proves that it would be disproportionate given the subject of the contract and the nature and seriousness of the practice. A minor inaccuracy in the description may therefore not be enough on its own to get the full purchase price back. The Czech Trade Inspection Authority (Česká obchodní inspekce) points this out expressly: the nature and seriousness of the practice always have to be assessed on the facts of the case.
Alongside that you still have an ordinary complaint. If the goods lack a quality the seller described, that is a defect under the Civil Code and the process is the same as for any other complaint.
Where you can file a report
You assert your claim directly with the seller. At the same time you can file a report with the supervisory authority that sanctions the company for an unfair practice. Depending on the type of goods or service:
- Czech Trade Inspection Authority for most goods and services
- Energy Regulatory Office (Energetický regulační úřad) for electricity, gas and heat
- Czech Telecommunication Office (Český telekomunikační úřad) for internet and telecommunications services
- Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (Státní zemědělská a potravinářská inspekce) for food
Energy is an area that European consumer organisations focused on in 2026. In June 2026 they filed a complaint with the European Commission and the CPC network of supervisory authorities about the climate claims of large energy companies.
What to prepare
Environmental claims have one inconvenient trait: they disappear from websites and packaging faster than other product information. Once a company changes the wording, it is hard to prove what was there at the time of purchase.
Before you start dealing with anything, save a screenshot of the product page or photograph the packaging with the claim in question. Add the order and the proof of payment so it is clear when the contract was concluded. That is the day from which the 90-day period runs.
What to do next
There is usually a noticeable difference in the seller’s reply between a message along the lines of "this does not seem fair to me" and a letter that names the specific claim and states what you are seeking. If you decide to withdraw from the contract, send the withdrawal to the seller yourself.
Legamik is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. In complex disputes we recommend consulting an attorney.