'Greenwashing': A caution to trade mark owners

As consumers become more environmentally conscious, the issue of sustainability has become increasingly important for businesses. This has led to a rise in "greenwashing", whereby businesses make false or exaggerated claims about their environmental practices in order to appear more sustainable. Greenwashing can mislead consumers and give an unfair advantage to businesses that are not genuinely committed to sustainability. The recent crackdown by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Securities and Investments Commission on such practices could have significant implications for businesses that use trade marks to promote their environmental credentials.