Greenwashing: Green Claims In Commercial Communications

The June 2023 ruling by the Swiss Commission for Fairness, finding FIFA's communications on carbon neutrality at the World Cup 2022 misleading to consumers, has attracted global attention. This decision acts as a strong reminder for companies to carefully evaluate their commercial communications, ensuring verifiable evidence supports environmental assertions. It foreshadows a wave of forthcoming cases and underscores the need to recall essential risk mitigation strategies amid heightened scrutiny of environmental claims in advertisements and marketing.

1. Introduction

On 29 June 2023, the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment released its 2023 report, which presents a comprehensive analysis of global climate change litigation trends. The report emphasizes a significant increase in "greenwashing" or "climate-washing" cases worldwide. Stakeholders, including investors, consumers, and regulatory bodies have become more vigilant in