Greenwashing in the Crosshairs: Regulators Around the Globe Take Aim

.article-native-ad { border-bottom: 1px solid #ddd; margin: 0 45px; padding-bottom: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; } .article-native-ad svg { color: #ddd; font-size: 34px; margin-top: 10px; } .article-native-ad p { line-height:1.5; padding:0!important; padding-left: 10px!important; } .article-native-ad strong { font-weight:500; color:rgb(46,179,178); }

Learn to partner with creators and build customer trust with authenticity. Join leaders from TikTok, the NBA and more at Social Media Week, May 16–18. Register now.

Increasingly, brands are touting their green creds in order to curry favor with consumers trying to make more sustainable choices. The trouble is, many of the messages have been found to be vague or false, leading lawmakers to crack down on instances of greenwashing.

With some penalties already in place in Europe, and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Green Guides update coming later this year, greenwashing is already a serious legal risk for brands. And that risk, including the associated fines and reputational damage, is only going to increase as the topic climbs up the agenda for policymakers.

“And

#paywall-register { margin:0; padding: 1rem 2.4rem; } #paywall-register .holder { background-color:#eee; border:15px solid #f2f2f2; padding:30px; margin:0 auto!important; text-align:center; } #paywall-register a.underline { color:#000!important; text-decoration:underline; } #paywall-register a.underline:hover { color:#333!important; text-decoration:underline; } #paywall-register img { margin-bottom:10px; width: 140px!important; height: auto!important; } #paywall-register h3 { font-weight:bold; font-size:18px; text-transform:uppercase; margin-bottom:20px; text-align:center; } #paywall-register h3 span { display:block; font-size:14px; } #paywall-register h2 { font-weight:800; font-size:24px; text-transform:uppercase; } #paywall-register p { font-size: 16px; color:#000; padding: 0; } #paywall-register .cta { margin-top:20px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size:14px; text-transform:capitalize; color: #181818!important; background-color: #fff02e; border:none; padding:12px 28px; text-decoration:none; -webkit-transition: .3s ease; -moz-transition: .3s ease; -o-transition: .3s ease; -ms-transition: .3s ease; transition: .3s ease; } #paywall-register .cta:hover { color: #fff!important; background-color: #181818; transform: scale(1.02); } #paywall-register .already-a-member { font-size:14px; } @media (max-width: 1024px) { #paywall-register .holder { border:12px solid #f2f2f2; padding:25px; } #paywall-register img { width: 120px!important; } } @media (max-width: 768px) { #paywall-register .holder { border:10px solid #f2f2f2; padding:20px; } #paywall-register img { width: 100px!important; } #paywall-register h3 { font-size:14px; } #paywall-register h3 span { font-size:12px; } #paywall-register h2 { font-size:18px; } #paywall-register p { font-size:14px; } #paywall-register .cta { font-size:12px; padding:10px 24px; } #paywall-register .already-a-member { font-size:11px; } }

Adweek

Create Your Free Account

Registration Includes:

The Adweek Daily newsletter with must-read stories direct to your inbox. PLUS, limited access to Adweek.com articles, videos and podcasts.

Join Today

Already a member? Sign in