For three years, Plant Inside carried the PETA-Approved Vegan certification. Then an EU directive changed the rules. Here is the honest story – and a practical guide to what matters now.
THE SHORT ANSWER
Since March 2024, EU Directive 2024/825 (EmpCo) has been in force. It bans sustainability labels that are not independently verified by an accredited third party. The PETA-Approved Vegan logo does not meet this requirement – and can no longer legally be used in the EU. Plant Inside officially ended its PETA certification on 28 April 2026. Our products remain 100% vegan and cruelty-free. What changed is the logo. What has not changed are our values, our materials and our production.
A Logo Disappears – But Not What It Stood For
If you have followed Plant Inside for a while, you may have noticed a small logo: PETA-Approved Vegan. We carried it since April 2023 – and renewed it twice. For us it was more than a sticker. It was an annual commitment to reviewing our supply chains, completing questionnaires, and proving transparency.
Now it is gone.
Not because we stopped producing vegan products. But because the EU fundamentally changed the rules for sustainability labels – and the PETA logo no longer meets the legal requirements for use in Europe.
That might sound like bad news. We see it differently: as an opportunity to communicate more honestly and specifically about what our materials actually deliver.
What Changed in the EU?
On 28 February 2024, the European Parliament adopted Directive (EU) 2024/825 – known as the EmpCo Directive (Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition). It entered into force on 26 March 2024 and must be implemented and applied by all EU member states by 27 September 2026.
The core goal: stop greenwashing. Consumers should no longer be misled by vague or unverifiable environmental and sustainability claims.
What the directive specifically prohibits:
• Generic terms like “eco”, “environmentally friendly” or “sustainable” without substantive evidence
• Sustainability labels not based on a transparent, publicly accessible certification scheme
• Labels not verified by an independent, accredited third party
• Claims that apply to only part of a product but are implied for the whole
What this means for PETA-Approved Vegan:
The PETA-Approved Vegan programme is a private certification run by PETA. Verification is based on company self-declaration – without independent on-site third-party verification. This does not meet the new EU requirements. PETA has officially communicated this and asked companies selling in the EU to remove the logo.
How to tell whether a brand genuinely acts sustainably – our practical checklist for conscious consumers.
Our PETA Story – Told Honestly
On 9 January 2023, we started the certification process with PETA. On 17 April 2023, we were officially certified. We renewed the certification twice – most recently in April 2025.
The process was demanding. We completed detailed questionnaires, disclosed our supply chains and ensured that our suppliers also met the requirements. Wojciech, co-founder of Plant Inside, describes it this way:
“During the certification, I had to make several calls to our suppliers to clarify details. It turned into a wonderful opportunity to really get to know the partners on the other side – and to reconnect with some older relationships.”
On 28 April 2026, we officially ended the certification – on our own initiative, after PETA informed us that the logo could no longer be used in the EU.
What remains: the values that brought us to certification in the first place are the same today. Cruelty-free is not a marketing decision for us. It is a principle.
What Has Not Changed for Our Products
Our bags, cases, wallets and lunch bags remain 100% vegan. All our materials are free from animal-derived components, PVC and microplastics. No logo changes that.
What changes: we now communicate the basis for that claim more specifically. Because behind our products are materials whose manufacturers have a strong certification foundation.
One important clarification: these certifications belong to our material suppliers – not to Plant Inside. We choose these materials consciously because we trust their standards. That is our form of verification: not through our own label, but through the careful selection of certified partners.
Our Materials and Their Certifications
Viridis® – Plant-Based Leather from European Corn and Wheat
Viridis® is an innovative plant-based leather containing up to 69% plant-derived raw materials – sourced from European, non-GMO corn and wheat. It is free from animal components, PVC and microplastics, produced in Italy by Panama Trimmings.
Supplier certifications:
• Animal Free VV – certified by LAV (Lega Anti Vivisezione, Italy): confirms the material is fully animal-free
• OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 Class 1 – tested for harmful substances, safe even for infants
• FSC® – the viscose component comes from sustainably managed forests
• USDA BioPreferred – confirms 69% biobased content (test ASTM D6866)
• LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) – demonstrates lower environmental impact than conventional synthetic leather across health, climate and resource categories
More about Viridis® – the plant-based leather behind our bags.
Vegea® – Grape Leather from Wine Waste
Vegea® is made from wine production waste: grape skins, seeds and marc residues, combined with vegetable oils and natural fibres. Produced in Milan, completely free from animal components, PVC and petroleum derivatives.
Supplier certifications:
• REACH Compliance – meets EU chemical regulations
• Vegan (verified)
• GOTS – Global Organic Textile Standard
• Global Recycled Standard
• Global Change Award by the H&M Foundation – one of the most prestigious innovation prizes in the fashion industry
Washpapa® – Washable Paper Textile from Germany
Washpapa is a washable kraft paper made from 60–91% cellulose fibres with synthetic latex. It looks like leather, is fully vegan and surprisingly durable. Produced in Germany.
Supplier certifications:
• OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 – tested for harmful substances
• FSC® (SCS) – certified for timber forest products
• Fully vegan – no animal-derived components, synthetic latex
How to Spot Truly Cruelty-Free Brands in the EU Today
With the PETA logo disappearing from the EU market, many consumers face a fair question: how do I now know that a brand truly produces cruelty-free?
Here is a practical guide:
1. Ask about materials – not logos
A logo tells you someone paid a fee. The material composition tells you what is actually inside. Good brands name their materials specifically: where do they come from? Who makes them? What certifications do the suppliers hold?
2. Check whether certifications are independently awarded
Under EU Directive 2024/825, only labels verified by independent third parties are permitted. Look for: OEKO-TEX®, FSC®, GOTS, REACH, USDA BioPreferred – these are awarded by accredited institutes, not through self-declaration.
3. Look at the supply chain, not just the final product
Cruelty-free means: no animal-derived components and no animal testing – not just in the finished product, but throughout the entire supply chain. Ask: where are the materials produced? Who sews the products? Is there information about working conditions?
4. Be sceptical of generic terms without evidence
Terms like “eco”, “sustainable”, “cruelty-free” or “animal-friendly” without substantive evidence will be prohibited in the EU from September 2026. If a brand uses these terms, it should be able to explain concretely what lies behind them.
5. Treat transparency as a signal
Brands that speak openly about their materials, their suppliers and even their limitations generally act more responsibly than those that only make promises. This article is an example: we explain what has changed – and why.
The difference between cruelty-free, vegan and animal-friendly – and how to tell them apart.
🌱 Did you know?
The European Commission found in a 2021 study that more than half of all environmental claims examined on the European market were vague, misleading or unsubstantiated. 40% were completely unfounded. Directive 2024/825 is the direct response to this. (Source: European Commission, 2021)
What This Means for Plant Inside
We continue to produce in small workshops in Poland – in Nowy Sącz, Elbląg and Malbork. We continue to use only plant-based materials free from animal components. We continue to pay fair wages and keep our supply chains short.
The PETA logo is now absent. But the substance behind it is the same.
What improves: we can now speak more concretely and directly about the certifications of our material suppliers – and that is ultimately more meaningful than a logo.
Why we still produce our bags in Europe – and what that means for quality and responsibility.
What vegan materials really are – an overview of all material types we use.
FAQ
Why is Plant Inside no longer using the PETA logo?
EU Directive 2024/825 (EmpCo) prohibits sustainability labels not verified by independent third parties. The PETA-Approved Vegan programme is based on company self-declaration without external verification, which does not meet the new EU requirements. PETA itself asked companies selling in the EU to remove the logo. Plant Inside officially ended the certification on 28 April 2026.
Are Plant Inside products still vegan and cruelty-free?
Yes, completely. All our materials – Viridis®, Vegea® and Washpapa® – are free from animal-derived components, PVC and microplastics. That has not changed.
What is EU Directive 2024/825 and who does it affect?
Directive (EU) 2024/825, known as the EmpCo Directive, has been in force since March 2024 and will be applied by all EU member states from September 2026. It affects all companies selling products to consumers in the EU – regardless of size. It prohibits misleading environmental and sustainability claims and labels without independent third-party verification.
What certifications do your materials have?
Our material suppliers – not Plant Inside itself – hold the following certifications: Viridis®: Animal Free VV (LAV), OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 Class 1, FSC®, USDA BioPreferred. Vegea®: REACH, Vegan, GOTS, Global Recycled Standard. Washpapa®: OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, FSC®. These certifications are awarded by accredited, independent institutes.
Can I still find cruelty-free brands in the EU?
Yes. The directive does not eliminate cruelty-free products – it changes how brands are permitted to communicate about them. Instead of private labels, what now counts are specific material declarations and certifications awarded by accredited institutes.
How do I know now whether a brand is truly vegan and cruelty-free?
Look for: specific material names, supplier certifications (OEKO-TEX®, FSC®, GOTS, REACH), transparent supply chains and honest communication including about limitations. Brands that clearly explain what they use – and what they do not – are more credible than those that only show logos.
Cruelty-free is not a logo. It’s a commitment.
We carried the PETA logo for three years – with conviction. Now we carry the values behind it – without the logo, but with more clarity about what our products are truly made of.
Explore the Plant Inside vegan collection – all products, all materials, all details.
Updated: April 2026