Green marketing guide from the Australian Government

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has been active in investigating 'green' claims by companies about environmentally beneficial products. They have now produced a 28 page "Green marketing and the Trade Practices Act" booklet. Those selling low power computers or ones claiming to be carbon offset or carbon neutral need to consider the advice:

• Contents
• Introduction 2
• Green marketing and the Trade Practices Act 3

1. The Trade Practices Act 4

• What does the law say? 4

2. Making environmental claims 7

• Principles to consider 7
• Broad or unqualified claims that can be problematic 11
• Penalties and remedies for breaching the Act 15
• Avoiding a breach of the law 15

3. Key environmental efficiency schemes 16

• The Equipment Energy Efficiency Program 16
• Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) Scheme. 18

4. Checklist for marketers 20

From: Green marketing and the Trade Practices Act, ACCC, 8 February 2008

There have not been any Green ICT cases with ACC, but some of the other cases were:

1. ACCC scrutinises Origin green power television advertisement
   ... Attn: Consumer, environment writers ACCC scrutinises Origin green power television advertisement As part of its continuing scrutiny of green'marketing ... 21 Dec 2007

2. Warning to air conditioning industry after Daikin 'green' claims challenged by ACCC
   ... Attn: Consumer, environment writers Warning to air conditioning industry after Daikin green'claims challenged by ACCC Daikin is an importer and distributor of air- ... 21 Jan 2005

3. ACCC alleges green claims misleading
   ... ACCC alleges green claims misleading The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has instituted proceedings in the Federal Court, Melbourne, against Lloyd Brooks Pty Ltd alleging misleading and deceptive conduct in claiming the environmental benefits for its range of Earthstrength plastic kitchen, garbage and freezer bags. ... 24 Jan 2005

4. Federal Court finds "Green" claims to be misleading
   ... Federal Court finds Green claims to be misleading The Federal Court, Sydney has found that Sanyo Airconditioners Manufacturing Singapore Pte Ltd, trading as Sanyo ... 18 Jan 2005

5. EnergyAustralia clears air about green electricity claims
   ... EnergyAustralia has agreed to provide the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission with an administrative undertaking to resolve ACCC concerns about representations which it made about its ClearAir and GreenFuture non-accredited electricity products, ACCC Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, announced today. ... 21 Dec 2007

6. BOC Gases: misleading 'Environmentally Friendly' claims
   ... BOC Gases have agreed to clarify the environmental and performance comparisons, cease using general terms such as environmentally preferred'or general green'claims ... 6 Jan 2005