The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) on February 20, 2024, issued the Draft Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Greenwashing, 2024.
The following provisions have been stated:
• Application:
These guidelines shall apply to:
a. All advertisements regardless of form, format or medium;
b. A service provider, product seller, advertiser, or an advertising agency or endorser whose service is availed for the advertisement of such goods or services
• Substantiation of Environmental Claims:
All advertisements making Environmental claims shall comply with the following obligations:
a) Generic terms such as’ clean’, 'green', 'eco-friendly', 'eco-consciousness', 'good for the planet', ‘minimal impact’, 'cruelty-free', ‘carbon–neutral’ and similar assertions shall not be used without adequate qualifiers and substantiation and adequate disclosure as provided under clause (9) of the guideline.
b) While using technical terms like Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Greenhouse Gas Emissions, and Ecological Footprint, one shall use consumer-friendly language and explain the meaning or implications of technical terms.
c) All environmental claims shall be backed by verifiable evidence.
The views/comments/suggestions on the proposed Guidelines may be sent within 30 days (by March 21, 2024) by email to [email protected].
Kindly find the draft guidelines provided with this document attached to the document.
[Notification No CCPA/28/2023-CCPA]
