Climate change and the gases that contribute to it are becoming facts of life for Australians. As awareness of environmental concerns grow, consumers are increasingly considering the greenhouse impact of goods and services.
Many businesses have responded to the consumer desire to be environmentally responsible by offering products and services that create less climate-changing greenhouse gas emissions or counteract emissions from other activities.
While this new market with its extra choice is welcome for many consumers, it can also be daunting.
Businesses now commonly make claims about the climate impact of a whole range of products and services. You can buy everything from carbon offset cars, loans, holidays and flights—even beer. Working out which claims are true and accurate is not always easy.
As a consumer, you are entitled to have confidence in the claims a business makes about its products or services. This includes carbon and greenhouse claims.
How are you protected?
The Trade Practices Act 1974 makes it illegal for businesses to act in a misleading or deceptive way. This means that any claims a business makes about its emissions must be clear, truthful and accurate.
Misleading, untrue, vague or unproven claims about the emission impact of a product or service, exploits peoples’ desire to help the environment, and can in turn, harm ethical traders. The ACCC will pursue companies who break the law in this way. Legal action can result in fines of $1.1 million for companies or $220 000 for individuals.
