Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 7.1
The 10 signs of greenwash.
Fluffy language
Words with no meaning (e.g., environmentally
friendly, eco-friendly, “green”)
Green products produced
by dirty companies
For instance an energy efficient product made in
a polluting factory
Suggestive pictures
Pictures not related to the product, which suggest
low impact to the environment
Irrelevant claims
Stress on one irrelevant green attribute when
everything else is far from green
Best in class
Making claims that a product is the best in a
category of products that are environmentally
taxing
Just not credible
“Greening a dangerous product doesn't make it
safe,” (e.g., green cigarettes)
Mumbo jumbo
Nonsense wording or wording difficult to
understand by the public
Imaginary friends
Implying environmental qualities by implying the
endorsement of third-party organizations
No proof
No data to substantiate the claim even when it
could be factual
Absolute lying
Fabrication of data to prove a claim
Adapted from Futerra, n.d.
REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES
Government regulations
U.S. Federal Trade Commission rules
Title 16, Part 260 of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) establishes “guides for the use
of environmental marketing claims” (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations [eCFR], 2010).
The guidelines undergo reviews based on petitions by individuals or the availability of new
evidence to substantiate claims; therefore, the guidelines available at the FTC's website (http://
www.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx/) should be reviewed periodically.
FTC rules establish that environmental claims are subjected to the general principles of
prohibiting unfair and deceptive acts in the practice of commerce (FTC Act 15 U.S.C.
§§ 41-58, 260.6) and to specific principles contained in section 260.7.
Section 260.7, environmental marketing claims, contains general previsions for claims on:
a. General environmental benefit claims.
b. Degradable/biodegradable/photodegradable.
c. Compostable.
d. Recyclable.
e. Recycled content.
f. Refillable.
g.
Ozone safe and ozone friendly (eCFR, 2010).
European Union guidelines
The European Union has created “Guidelines for Making and Assessing Environmental Claims”
that are in agreement with the self-declared claims stated by the ISO 14021:1999 (Palerm,
2000). The guidelines establish general principles for all environmental claims including:
