Le certificazioni private per un consumo alimentare sostenibile: regole e tutele

[Machine translation] The essay analyzes the role of private certifications in communicating sustainability in the agri-food sector, with particular attention to the relationship between consumer protection, market transparency and European regulation of green claims. Starting from the progressive affirmation of the paradigm of sustainable development, the contribution highlights how environmental and social information has become a decisive factor in consumer choices and in competition between companies. In this context, the multiplication of voluntary statements on product sustainability has made it increasingly urgent to use tools capable of ensuring verifiability, reliability and comparability of information., The analysis therefore focuses on the transition from self-declarations by economic operators to third-party certifications, examining their legal basis in the light of European regulations on unfair commercial practices, food information, accreditation and market surveillance. Particular importance is attached to Directive (EU) 2024/825, which reinforces the fight against greenwashing by prohibiting generic or unverifiable environmental claims and valuing independent certification schemes. The essay also considers the proposed directive on green claims, highlighting its objectives, critical issues and political uncertainties, especially with regard to the burdens that a prior verification system could entail for small and medium-sized enterprises. In conclusion, the author argues that private certifications cannot replace public control, but must integrate it into clear, proportionate and transparent European governance. Only a balance between regulatory rigor, accessibility of certification tools and protection of competition can allow the construction of a truly sustainable, reliable and inclusive food market.