Environmental impact labeling in Mexico: a new risk factor for exporting food and cosmetics
Environmental impact labeling has moved beyond being a purely aspirational concept and has become a point of regulatory scrutiny. In Mexico, although there is not yet a specific Official Mexican Standard (NOM) dedicated exclusively to environmental labeling, authorities are already paying closer attention to claims related to sustainability, environmental protection, and ecological responsibility.
For Mexican companies that manufacture or market food and cosmetic products, this context has a direct implication: the labeling decisions made today can affect export viability in the short and medium term. National regulatory initiatives, combined with increasingly stringent standards in markets such as the United States and the European Union, are raising compliance expectations even before a formal NOM is issued.
What is considered environmental impact labeling?
Environmental impact labeling includes any statement, text, symbol, image, or graphic element suggesting that a product, its packaging, or its manufacturing process provides an environmental benefit. This includes terms such as sustainable, eco-friendly, biodegradable, compostable, or references to reduced environmental impact.
The critical issue is not only the use of these terms, but the company’s ability to technically and documentarily substantiate them. When an environmental claim cannot be verified, it may be considered misleading information from a regulatory perspective.
What is happening in Mexico regarding environmental claims
In Mexico, the regulatory framework applicable to environmental labeling is developing in a cross-cutting manner. Although there is no single regulation addressing the issue comprehensively, authorities such as SEMARNAT and PROFECO are already applying technical criteria to assess the truthfulness of environmental claims on consumer products.
This means that, in practice, companies may already face observations or regulatory requests related to environmental claims, even in the absence of a specific NOM.
Relationship with NOM-051 and the concept of misleading information
NOM-051 does not directly regulate environmental impact. However, it establishes that all information presented to consumers must be truthful, verifiable, and not misleading. When a company declares environmental benefits without technical support, regulatory risk is triggered under the concept of misleading information.
Impact on food products
In the food sector, environmental claims are often incorporated into primary and secondary packaging, as well as commercial materials associated with export activities. Common mistakes include confusing sustainable packaging with a sustainable product, using undefined terms, or replicating claims from other markets without prior regulatory analysis.
Impact on cosmetics
In cosmetics, environmental labeling is often associated with perceptions of safety, natural origin, or sustainability. When these claims are not aligned with the product formulation, packaging, and technical documentation, they can become an additional risk during export processes.
Why these initiatives affect exports
Destination markets—particularly the United States and the European Union—have taken a stronger stance against greenwashing. For Mexican exporting companies, this creates a direct effect: non-compliance in the destination market often returns as an observation at the point of origin, affecting timelines, costs, and commercial viability.
Conclusion
Environmental impact labeling in Mexico is not a future issue—it is a current risk factor. Properly managing these claims allows companies to protect their exports, avoid rework, and maintain the trust of authorities and consumers.
If your company manufactures in Mexico and is already communicating attributes such as “eco,” “biodegradable,” “compostable,” or “sustainable,” it is worth validating them before printing labels or exporting. At CORE Consulting, we can review your environmental claims, the technical evidence supporting them, and their alignment with destination market requirements to reduce risks, delays, and rework. Contact us for an export-focused label review.
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Environmental impact labeling has moved beyond being a purely aspirational concept and has become a point of regulatory scrutiny. In Mexico, although there is not yet a specific Official Mexican Standard (NOM) dedicated exclusively to environmental labeling, authorities are already paying closer attention to claims related to sustainability, environmental protection, and ecological responsibility.
For Mexican companies that manufacture or market food and cosmetic products, this context has a direct implication: the labeling decisions made today can affect export viability in the short and medium term. National regulatory initiatives, combined with increasingly stringent standards in markets such as the United States and the European Union, are raising compliance expectations even before a formal NOM is issued.
What is considered environmental impact labeling?
Environmental impact labeling includes any statement, text, symbol, image, or graphic element suggesting that a product, its packaging, or its manufacturing process provides an environmental benefit. This includes terms such as sustainable, eco-friendly, biodegradable, compostable, or references to reduced environmental impact.
The critical issue is not only the use of these terms, but the company’s ability to technically and documentarily substantiate them. When an environmental claim cannot be verified, it may be considered misleading information from a regulatory perspective.
What is happening in Mexico regarding environmental claims
In Mexico, the regulatory framework applicable to environmental labeling is developing in a cross-cutting manner. Although there is no single regulation addressing the issue comprehensively, authorities such as SEMARNAT and PROFECO are already applying technical criteria to assess the truthfulness of environmental claims on consumer products.
This means that, in practice, companies may already face observations or regulatory requests related to environmental claims, even in the absence of a specific NOM.
Relationship with NOM-051 and the concept of misleading information
NOM-051 does not directly regulate environmental impact. However, it establishes that all information presented to consumers must be truthful, verifiable, and not misleading. When a company declares environmental benefits without technical support, regulatory risk is triggered under the concept of misleading information.
Impact on food products
In the food sector, environmental claims are often incorporated into primary and secondary packaging, as well as commercial materials associated with export activities. Common mistakes include confusing sustainable packaging with a sustainable product, using undefined terms, or replicating claims from other markets without prior regulatory analysis.
Impact on cosmetics
In cosmetics, environmental labeling is often associated with perceptions of safety, natural origin, or sustainability. When these claims are not aligned with the product formulation, packaging, and technical documentation, they can become an additional risk during export processes.
Why these initiatives affect exports
Destination markets—particularly the United States and the European Union—have taken a stronger stance against greenwashing. For Mexican exporting companies, this creates a direct effect: non-compliance in the destination market often returns as an observation at the point of origin, affecting timelines, costs, and commercial viability.
Conclusion
Environmental impact labeling in Mexico is not a future issue—it is a current risk factor. Properly managing these claims allows companies to protect their exports, avoid rework, and maintain the trust of authorities and consumers.
If your company manufactures in Mexico and is already communicating attributes such as “eco,” “biodegradable,” “compostable,” or “sustainable,” it is worth validating them before printing labels or exporting. At CORE Consulting, we can review your environmental claims, the technical evidence supporting them, and their alignment with destination market requirements to reduce risks, delays, and rework. Contact us for an export-focused label review.
Environmental impact labeling has moved beyond being a purely aspirational concept and has become a point of regulatory scrutiny. In Mexico, although there is not yet a specific Official Mexican Standard (NOM) dedicated exclusively to environmental labeling, authorities are already paying closer attention to claims related to sustainability, environmental protection, and ecological responsibility.
For Mexican companies that manufacture or market food and cosmetic products, this context has a direct implication: the labeling decisions made today can affect export viability in the short and medium term. National regulatory initiatives, combined with increasingly stringent standards in markets such as the United States and the European Union, are raising compliance expectations even before a formal NOM is issued.
What is considered environmental impact labeling?
Environmental impact labeling includes any statement, text, symbol, image, or graphic element suggesting that a product, its packaging, or its manufacturing process provides an environmental benefit. This includes terms such as sustainable, eco-friendly, biodegradable, compostable, or references to reduced environmental impact.
The critical issue is not only the use of these terms, but the company’s ability to technically and documentarily substantiate them. When an environmental claim cannot be verified, it may be considered misleading information from a regulatory perspective.
What is happening in Mexico regarding environmental claims
In Mexico, the regulatory framework applicable to environmental labeling is developing in a cross-cutting manner. Although there is no single regulation addressing the issue comprehensively, authorities such as SEMARNAT and PROFECO are already applying technical criteria to assess the truthfulness of environmental claims on consumer products.
This means that, in practice, companies may already face observations or regulatory requests related to environmental claims, even in the absence of a specific NOM.
Relationship with NOM-051 and the concept of misleading information
NOM-051 does not directly regulate environmental impact. However, it establishes that all information presented to consumers must be truthful, verifiable, and not misleading. When a company declares environmental benefits without technical support, regulatory risk is triggered under the concept of misleading information.
Impact on food products
In the food sector, environmental claims are often incorporated into primary and secondary packaging, as well as commercial materials associated with export activities. Common mistakes include confusing sustainable packaging with a sustainable product, using undefined terms, or replicating claims from other markets without prior regulatory analysis.
Impact on cosmetics
In cosmetics, environmental labeling is often associated with perceptions of safety, natural origin, or sustainability. When these claims are not aligned with the product formulation, packaging, and technical documentation, they can become an additional risk during export processes.
Why these initiatives affect exports
Destination markets—particularly the United States and the European Union—have taken a stronger stance against greenwashing. For Mexican exporting companies, this creates a direct effect: non-compliance in the destination market often returns as an observation at the point of origin, affecting timelines, costs, and commercial viability.
Conclusion
Environmental impact labeling in Mexico is not a future issue—it is a current risk factor. Properly managing these claims allows companies to protect their exports, avoid rework, and maintain the trust of authorities and consumers.
If your company manufactures in Mexico and is already communicating attributes such as “eco,” “biodegradable,” “compostable,” or “sustainable,” it is worth validating them before printing labels or exporting. At CORE Consulting, we can review your environmental claims, the technical evidence supporting them, and their alignment with destination market requirements to reduce risks, delays, and rework. Contact us for an export-focused label review.
