Whether shopping in the supermarket or mall or browsing online, shades of green and blue are everywhere. Claims that products are “green”, “eco”, or “sustainable” are almost universal. After all, we all want to do our bit for the environment and future generations.
But if a company tells you that their product is an “earth friendly” choice, often with a price premium, how can you know if it’s true?
There are companies in Australia offering genuinely sustainable products and services but it’s far too difficult to sort the good from the bad. Credit: Getty Images
Last week, the ACCC initiated court action against the company that makes Glad bags for stating that some bags were made from 50 per cent recycled “ocean plastic”.
The term “ocean plastic” makes it sound like the plastic was sourced directly from the neck of a suffering sea turtle. In reality, the Glad bags were made from plastic found up to 50 kilometres away from the shoreline.
Frequently, companies employ misleading eco-claims to divert attention from the significant environmental impact of their product. Ampol, for instance, markets a “carbon-neutral” petrol that offsets emissions – but the company’s primary product is carbon-intensive fossil fuel. Mecca cosmetics advertises “sustainable packaging” on social media, but only postage materials are sustainable, not the product packaging. Panasonic makes vague claims of being “For the planet”, without specifying what that entails.
Greenwashing is pervasive. Too often the promotion of environmental virtues is more about marketing than making a real impact. The true danger lies in its ability to sabotage our attempts to make sustainable purchases, tricking us into supporting practices that betray our ethical and environmental principles.
Glad changed its packaging to say the bag were “made using 50% ocean-bound plastic”. But what is ocean-bound plastic anyway?Credit: ACCC
While it is positive that the ACCC is suing Glad, we cannot just rely on legal action to stamp out false green claims. Rather than tell us the truth, marketing departments can subtly shift key messages to avoid the regulator’s gaze.
For example, following initial scrutiny, Glad removed the term “ocean plastic” and instead claimed that the bags were “made using 50% ocean bound plastic”. It’s perhaps much harder for a regulator to prove where plastics are “bound” to end up.
Paying extra for ‘earth-friendly’ products? You’re probably being scammed
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26.04.2024
Whether shopping in the supermarket or mall or browsing online, shades of green and blue are everywhere. Claims that products are “green”, “eco”, or “sustainable” are almost universal. After all, we all want to do our bit for the environment and future generations.
But if a company tells you that their product is an “earth friendly” choice, often with a price premium, how can you know if it’s true?
There are companies in Australia offering genuinely sustainable products and services but it’s far too difficult to sort the good from the bad. Credit: Getty Images
Last week, the ACCC........
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