Environmental
Resource Center
Green Labeling
An Environmental Resource Center Asset from Graphic Communications
Confused by all the “green” claims by products on store shelves? There’s good reason to be. A recent study found that more than 95 percent of consumer products examined committed at least one offense of “greenwashing,” a term used to describe unproven environmental claims. This is according to TerraChoice, a North American environmental marketing company that issued the report.
Read the studies below to understand the implications of green labeling for your company, and be sure to visit other pages of GC’s Environmental Resource Center.
Navigating Eco-Certification Claims
In this video, Kendall Jackson Wines VP of Sustainability discusses how to determine whether third-party sustainability certification statements are true.
EPA Launches Green Product Web Portal
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has launched a green products web portal that can help manufacturers find information on standards and criteria for designing greener products.
More Consumers Believe Sustainability Claims – But Many Still Skeptical
Americans today are more likely to believe businesses’ green claims, but 39 percent still say that companies’ assertions about the environment are not accurate.
Are Your Marketing Claims ‘Green Guide’ Compliant?
Upcoming changes to the Federal Trade Commission’s “Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims” will further limit environmental claims.
ConAgra Sued Over ‘Natural’ Claims
Suit filed against the food giant says the company’s Wesson oil contains genetically modified ingredients and therefore doesn’t qualify as “natural.”
Google Using Blatant Greenwash To Promote New Catalog App
Google launched its Google Catalogs app this week with a shiny coat of greenwash. “A Greener Way to Shop,” proclaims the new product’s promotional page, which provides no substantiation for the claim.
‘Greenwashing’ Companies Forced to Drop Marketing Claims
Promoting the lower cost of electronic billing as a way of helping the environment is misleading, says a paper manufacturing group that argues most paper production is sustainable and not harmful.
EPA Demands Full Ingredients on Designed for the Environment Products
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will require all products using its Designed for the Environment labeling program to disclose their full ingredients to consumers.
CBS EcoAd Accused of Greenwashing in FTC Complaint
CBS is the target of a formal complaint to the Federal Trade Commission over their EcoAd program, which allegedly violates federal laws and FTC Green Guides for environmental advertising claims.
Before You Make Environmental Product Claims…
Consider these “rules to live by” from Graphic Communications.
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.
A Summary of the Proposed Revised Green Guides
The Federal Trade Commission proposed revisions to the guidance that it gives marketers to help them avoid making misleading environmental claims.
New Green Guides Suggest Best Practices
On examination of the FTC’s new Green Guides and related consumer protection regulations, it is clear that renewable energy and carbon offset claims should be made carefully.
Federal Trade Commission Labeling Guidelines
Here are some guides for the use of environmental marketing claims from the FTC.
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.
FTC Green Guides: What You Need to Know
To protect consumers and keep marketers honest, the Federal Trade Commission publishes the Green Guides, which are currently undergoing an extensive review.
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.
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.
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.”
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.
Has Green Stopped Giving?
Green marketing, a movement so hot that not even a deep recession could kill it, is starting to show signs of consumer revolt.
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.
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?
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.
National Advertising Division of the Council of Better Business Bureaus
The National Advertising Division (NAD) reviews national advertising for truthfulness and accuracy, and fosters public confidence in the credibility of advertising by settling complaints about misleading or false ads.
If you have environment information or tools you’d like us to consider sharing here, please contact our Director of Environmental Affairs, Ralph O’Connor.
