The Federal Trade Commission will reconsider its green marketing and packaging guidelines, the commission said last week. They were last revised in 1998.
The FTC will consider consumers’ perceptions of what specific product packaging claims mean. Comments from industry and the public will be gathered as part of the review process of the Green Guides before any possible changes are made. The intent is to avoid consumer deception.
This regulatory review process includes holding a public workshop on April 30 in Washington, DC. Topics that will be addressed include such terms as "sustainable" and "renewable."
Current FTC guidelines for marketing do not address all the terminology now used in packaging claims, which can be associated with responsible environmental practices.
In recent years the use of terms like "recyclable, recycled content, biodegradable, degradable, compostable and refillable" have become more widely used with respect to packaging, which according to the FTC may raise consumer perception and substantiation issues.
Another trend being scrutinized by the FTC involves the increased use of environmental seals and third-party certification, which purport to verify a positive impact of packaging.
The FTC plans to review scientific and technological changes related to packaging and the impact on the environment, with respect to either updating existing "green" packaging guidelines or developing a new set of guidelines.
Existing "green" packaging guidelines can be taken into account when the FTC considers whether a company is making unfair or deceptive claims related to the broader FTC Act, which can then result in the FTC filing a lawsuit in court.
Environmental advocacy groups often cite excessive amounts of packaging and some types of packaging commonly used for products as societal problems.
