Page 9 - Food&Drink magazine April-May 2023

ACCC sweeps out greenwashing
THE Australian Consumer and Competition Commission said the food and beverage sector is one of the top three industries making questionable environmental claims.
In an internet sweep of
247 businesses, the ACCC found more than half made concerning claims about their environmental credentials.
ACCC deputy chair Catriona Lowe said the findings of this initial action showed that businesses making vague or unclear environmental claims warranted further scrutiny.
Lowe said the commission already had active investigations into packaging, consumer goods, food manufacturing, and medical devices sectors.
“Businesses using broad claims like ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘green’, or ‘sustainable’ are obliged to
back up these
claims through
reliable
scientific
reports,
transparent
supply chain
information,
reputable
third-party
certification or other forms of evidence.
“Where we have concerns, we will be asking businesses to substantiate their claims,”
she said.
She recommended companies come forward if they realised they were making false or misleading claims.
Of the 247 businesses across eight sectors, 37 were from the food and beverage sector and 24 of them raised concerns regarding claims being made.
Key issues identified by the ACCC included vague and unqualified claims like ‘kind to the planet’ or ‘eco-friendly’, as well as a lack of substantiating information and using absolute claims, e.g., ‘100% recyclable’.
The ACCC said the findings showed what needs to be done in terms of education and guidance materials for specific sectors. ✷
BELOW: The ACCC’s
first internet sweep
showed more work
Food & Drink Business, 153 x 237 mm, Digitalisation M, CC-en91-AZ243 03/23
needs to be done.
NEWS
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