Graphic Communications

An Environment Resource Center Asset
from Graphic Communications

More products than ever are claiming to be “green.” The average number of such products per store almost doubled between 2007 and 2008, and green advertising almost tripled between 2006 and 2008. With mounting pressure to be Earth-conscious, it’s no wonder that 98 percent of products and their marketers committed at least one of the Seven Sins of Greenwashing, or making false environmental claims.

Read the studies below to understand the implications of green labeling for your company, and be sure to visit other pages of GC’s Environment Resource Center:

Environmental Paper Calculator
Environment News
Tools & Guides
Recycling Resources
Climate Change
Carbon Accounting
Water Conservation & Sustainability
Forests & Chain of Custody
Lacey Act

FTC Green Guidelines May Leave Marketers Red-Faced
The new set of so-called Green Guides could radically reshape how far marketers can go in painting their products, packaging or even corporate images green. 

The Dos (and Don’ts) of On-product Environmental Claims
Stay out of hot water by following these product labeling rules for making responsible environmental claims.

Greenmail Actions Against Corporations
Environmental groups threaten major U.S. and European companies to suspend purchase of paper products and palm oil from Indonesia and China.

‘Green’ Goods, Red Flags
A rash of Earth-friendly claims spurs a rising number of lawsuits and FTC actions.

Phony Products Get U.S. Energy-efficiency Label
Federal investigators who submitted phony products to the government’s energy efficiency certification program found it easy to obtain approval for the devices.

FTC Moves May Signal Start of ‘Greenwashing’ Crackdown
The Federal Trade Commission is expected to crack down on “greenwashing” when it updates its environmental marketing guidelines.

Move Over Greenwashing – ‘Localwashing’ Has Arrived
Here are some pictures of the worst ads by big companies pretending to be local.

Retailers, Check Your Shorts (or be Bamboozled)
Why would the big bad Federal Trade Commission go after a small business rather than a big retailer for violating consumer protection laws prohibiting false green product claims?

FTC Charges Clothing Firms With ‘Bamboo-zling’ The Public
Four companies selling clothing marketed as made from bamboo have been charged by the FTC with deceptive advertising and marketing claims.

U.S. Green Product Council Debated
With so many organizations claiming to certify various products and services as “green” or “sustainable,” is it time for a unified U.S. Green Product Council?

Before You Make Environmental Product Claims…
Consider these “rules to live by” from Graphic Communications.

FTC on Greenwashing: Is That All There Is?
Developments at hearing indicate that FTC is not on target for enacting new green marketing standards in mid-2009.

FTC Cracking Down on False Green Claims
Kmart Corp., Tender Corp., and Dyna-E International charged with making unsubstantiated claims that paper products were “biodegradable.”

How to Make Environmental Marketing Claims
This AF&PA guide helps ensure compliance in your company’s use of the recycling symbol and environmental marketing claims.

Shell Accused of Greenwashing, Again
A new ad from Royal Dutch Shell is once again causing the oil company’s critics to yell “greenwashing.”

Seven Sins of Greenwashing
Download this 2009 study from TerraChoice Environmental Marketing of environmental claims in North American consumer markets.

Federal Trade Commission Labeling Guidelines
Here are some guides for the use of environmental marketing claims from the FTC.

FTC Green Guides
Learn how the FTC will apply Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices, to environmental marketing claims.