Government Issues Guidelines to Prevent Greenwashing in Advertising

Why in the news?

The government has introduced guidelines to prevent companies from making false environmental claims, requiring verifiable evidence for sustainability claims in advertisements to combat greenwashing.

Government Issues Guidelines to Prevent Greenwashing in Advertising

Greenwashing Guidelines Introduced by the Government:

  • The government has issued guidelines to prevent companies from making false or misleading environmental claims.
  • These guidelines, issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), aim to regulate greenwashing and ensure environmental claims are backed by scientific evidence.
  • The guidelines complement the 2022 regulations on misleading advertisements.

Key Principles of the Guidelines

  • Environmental claims must be truthful, based on verifiable information or evidence.
  • Terms like “green” and “clean” should be specific, with clear data.
  • Comparisons between products must be fair and meaningful.
  • Misleading endorsements or imagery are prohibited, and technical terms must be explained in consumer-friendly language.

What is Greenwashing?

  • Greenwashing involves making dubious or unverifiable claims about a product or service being environmentally friendly.
  • Companies and governments sometimes exaggerate their eco-friendly activities or products.
  • Examples include the Volkswagen emissions scandal and accusations against Shell, BP, and Coca-Cola for greenwashing.

Sources Referred:

PIB, The Hindu, Indian Express, Hindustan Times