Two Sides has said that 168 of the 240 companies it identified as using misleading greenwash statements in their marketing and communications activities have now removed the offending comments as a direct result of its ongoing lobbying initiative.
Martyn Eustace, chairman of Two Sides, said: “We’re really pleased that the efforts and lobbying of Two Sides is having such a significant effect on some of the world’s largest and most influential organisations. But there is no room for complacency, and there is still a great deal of work to do tackle the remaining companies that continue to mislead their customers.”
He said major global corporations are still using inaccurate and misleading environmental claims to encourage consumers to ‘go paperless’ and switch to digital communication. This is despite legislation being introduced by the advertising standards authorities in many countries to protect the consumer from being misled.
“It’s extremely frustrating and unacceptable,” continued Eustace. “Many consumers still have a strong preference for paper but they are being manipulated by a lack of clear and accurate information when in fact paper, based on a natural, renewable and recyclable resource, should be considered as a highly sustainable way to communicate.”