FTC Cracks Down On Misleading Environmental Marketing

This article was originally published in Behind the Scenes.

As part of its effort to ratchet up enforcement on violations of the Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (or Green Guides), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reached two separate settlements with companies accused of making misleading claims involving plastic products. These cases serve as a reminder that companies need to understand the requirements of the Green Guides before making environmental claims.

"Biogradability" Requires Evidence and Disclosures

In the first settlement, the FTC charged Clear Choice Housewares, Inc., Carnie Cap, Inc., and MacNeill Engineering Company (doing business as "CHAMP") of claiming that their plastic products were biodegradable when it did not appear the companies had any scientific substantiation to support such claims.