Sustainability is no longer just an ethical imperative; it is also a strategic advantage. Mastering the legal framework enhances the corporate image and secures a long-term market position. For innovative start-ups and established corporations alike, it is crucial to rely on dependable, interdisciplinary legal expertise in the face of increasingly comprehensive product regulations, reporting and labeling obligations, and greenwashing risks. With SKW, you are prepared for a green future!
Sustainability & Green Compliance
kommunikation@skwschwarz.de
Circular Economy and Resource Conservation
The circular economy is a cornerstone of sustainable development. To navigate between reuse, repair obligations, and recycling, companies must design their production processes effectively and legally compliant. While you conserve resources and minimize waste through technological innovation, we offer a deep understanding of legal requirements and certifications, from compliance with relevant environmental laws to obtaining necessary permits.
ESG Compliance and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
ESG compliance—adhering to environmental, social, and governance criteria—ensures the long-term and sustainable success of your company. Often, this is not merely a successful business strategy to improve the corporate image and secure a more stable economic environment but also a real legal obligation within the framework of reporting requirements. Comprehensive ESG management can minimize the risk of legal disputes and strengthen the trust of your investors and customers.
Sustainable Supply Chains, Green IT, and Environmental Management
A sustainable supply chain is more than just a selling point—it is a crucial factor for the long-term success of a company and a legal obligation under the Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and deforestation-free supply chain regulations. By implementing environmental management systems and sustainable strategies, companies can reduce their carbon footprint while increasing the efficiency and transparency of their processes. Companies must ensure that all links in their supply chain meet high legal standards. We support you in this endeavor.
Innovation and Technology
Eco-friendly technologies and ecological innovations are key components in halting climate change and achieving greater eco-efficiency. New technologies must be adequately protected from competitors through intellectual property rights, particularly patents, and must also meet product safety requirements. Our strategic legal guidance secures your ideas and helps you minimize legal risks.
Competition Law, Green Claims, and Greenwashing – the SKW GreenBox
With the growing awareness of sustainability, the risk of greenwashing—the danger of projecting a falsely green image through misleading environmental claims—also increases. Companies must ensure that their environmental promises are transparent and verifiable to avoid legal consequences and gain consumer trust. Competition law plays a central role here. The European Union has significantly expanded these regulations under the European Green Deal with the Empowering Consumers Directive and the upcoming Green Claims Directive. False or misleading environmental claims can lead to severe fines, lengthy lawsuits, or class actions with high compensation demands. Previously common certificates must adapt to the new system. Our comprehensive legal advice therefore significantly includes your sustainability communication, helping your company make authentic, simple, and legally compliant statements about the environmental aspects of your products and services.
Food Tech, Start-Ups, and Social Innovation
Start-ups play a crucial role in the green economy. They bring fresh ideas and innovative solutions that challenge traditional business models. From impact investing to social innovation and green business models, young companies are often pioneers in sustainability. The legal framework for these ventures is complex and requires careful planning and advice. Especially in the area of novel foods, which make a significant contribution to preserving our livelihoods by reducing emissions and conserving animal resources, solid legal expertise is needed—from intellectual property protection to product labeling requirements and compliance with novel food regulations.
Sustainable Urban Development
Climate change is undeniably real and already palpable today. Issues with stormwater drainage after heavy rain events and the increasing demand for renewable energy have posed serious challenges for cities, municipalities, and property owners for some time.
In addressing these future tasks, it is essential to consider both the city and municipality as a whole while continuing to enable the planning and implementation of individual construction projects. Decisions must always be future-proof.
Our Expertise
We understand the complex challenges associated with sustainable business models and the green economy, and we support your company in navigating this dynamic environment permanently. With our expertise in intellectual property law, ESG compliance, and product regulation and labeling, we help you achieve your sustainability goals. Simultaneously, our diverse client base helps us identify and minimize cross-industry risk potential.
We guide start-ups through the legally secure implementation of their innovative ideas up to market entry and beyond, advise corporate venture capital firms on sustainable investments, and ensure that your company continues to comply with all environmental standards. Our experience and our interdisciplinary team enable us to develop tailored solutions to meet your specific needs. Just contact us.
