Complaint lodged on potential greenwashing by the Climate Active trademark program
COURT OR TRIBUNAL
Other
DATE FILED (OR FIRST HEARING DATE)
13/02/2023
LITIGATION TYPE
Corporate Accountability, Corporate Accountability
SUBJECT MATTER
Carbon credits / offsets, Transparency/disclosure
REVIEW TYPE
N/A
SUMMARY
A legal letter from the Australia Institute, represented by the EDO, has requested that the ACCC investigate whether the Climate Active trademark program and its carbon neutral claims including its use by companies involved in the program, is misleading or deceptive under the Australian Consumer Law. They allege that representations on the Climate Active are potentially misleading for several reasons including: (1) the trademarks used in relation to carbon neutral organisations do not require a company to significantly reduce its emissions; (2) carbon neutral organisations can reduce their emissions in their operations or through their products and services; (3) carbon neutral products are not reducing emissions but are paying for offsets; and (4) the trademarks do not make clear the details of how the program works or disclaimers in relation to the claims made.
CASE DOCUMENTS
Complaint lodged on potential greenwashing by the Climate Active trademark program
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