Japan Publishes Revised “Environmental Labeling Guidelines” to Strengthen Measures Against Greenwashing

On March 31, 2026, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment (MOE) released a revised edition of the “Environmental Labeling Guidelines”, which organize the appropriate approach to providing environmental information for businesses that make self-declared environmental claims. The revision responds to the growing domestic and international attention on expanding the market for green products and addressing greenwashing claims of environmental friendliness that lack substantive basis. The purpose of the revision is to help Japanese companies communicate their environmental initiatives appropriately and support the development of a greener economic system. Key updates include a reorganization of the “Five Basic Principles” that businesses must follow at minimum, the addition of illustrative examples of advertising claims, and the incorporation of recent regulatory trend.