Environmental Claims & Verification Policy

Purpose

This policy outlines how environmental claims must be created, verified, displayed, and maintained on Gephra Sustaina. It ensures all claims are scientifically meaningful, verifiable, and protect customers from false environmental advertising.

Scope

Applies to:

• •All vendors and seller representatives
• •Product-level and vendor-level sustainability data
• •Storefront claims, marketing descriptions, packaging claims, certifications, and lifecycle information

Environmental Claim Categories Covered

Vendors may make environmental claims that fall into these approved categories:

• •Material composition (recycled, organic, biodegradable)
• •Carbon footprint or CO₂ reductions
• •Renewable energy usage
• •Water, waste, and pollution reductions
• •Circular economy functions
• •Ethical sourcing and responsible supply chain documentation

Any claim outside these categories requires case-specific approval.

Verification Requirements

Environmental claims must be supported by at least one proof type:

• •Official certification (ISO, Fair Trade, Organic, GOTS, FSC, etc.)
• •Laboratory testing results
• •Verified supply chain documentation
• •LCA or carbon accounting data
• •Recognized audit reports
• •Manufacturer declarations with traceable evidence

Claims relying on intention, future progress, or estimates must be labeled clearly as such.

Claim Language Rules

Claim wording must be:

• •precise ("Contains 45% recycled PET")
• •traceable ("Sourced from certified forest suppliers in Kenya")
• •measurable (quantified data preferred)
• •free of universal statements ("100% green," "zero harm," "fully sustainable")

Review & Approval

Before publishing:

• •All environmental claims go through platform review
• •High-impact claims (carbon neutral, zero waste, etc.) require documentary proof
• •Gephra may request updated proof at any time

Unverified claims will be removed.

Updating or Withdrawing Claims

Vendors must update or remove claims if:

• •production processes change,
• •certification expires,
• •new data contradicts earlier statements.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Repeated or intentional false claims may result in:

• •product or vendor listing suspension,
• •removal of sustainability badges,
• •permanent marketplace removal.