Energy Efficiency Claims: cars and vacuum cleaners
It’s good to see energy efficiency is making headlines. Last month it was VW over their fraudulent emissions and fuel efficiency claims, which will result in billions of dollars of repairs, customer claims, penalties and untold damage to its, otherwise, excellent reputation. In a positive twist, it seems that VW may redeem its reputation by escalating […]
Read MorePLASTIC- how can we reduce the amount of plastic in rubbish?
I recently met a woman who proudly said that she did not have a general rubbish bin: she recycled or composted everything. It’s a goal I am yet to reach. My pet hate, however, is the overuse of plastic. It annoys me to hear people ask for a bag for 1 or 2 items at the supermarket, when […]
Read MoreWhat all businesses can learn from free range eggs
This week the ACCC has taken action against 3 more “free range” egg producers; those selling Ecoeggs, Field Fresh, Port Stephens and Darling Downs Fresh Eggs brands. The ACCC is alleging that their claims of free range are misleading and deceptive in breach of the Australian Consumer Law. These proceedings follow the recent decision of the Federal Court in September […]
Read More12 sustainability goals successful companies know
Sustainability plays a significant role in many companies today. They are seeing benefits from operational efficiencies, goodwill and compliance as well as the greater advantages that come from managing their impact on the environment and communities. Nestlé, for example, has promised to achieve zero energy waste in all of its 150 European factories by 2020. […]
Read MoreAre you sick of seeing waste packaging littering the streets?
I am! Not only because I am tired of having to drag Lulu past Mc Donald’s packages, ice cream wrappers, milk cartons, chip bags etc every time I take her for a walk! If you own a scavenger, you become very aware of rubbish!! Another (less selfish) reason is the energy and resources that go […]
Read MoreFuel cells: An under used energy source. What are they?
Two articles came across my desk on Monday from very different sources about fuel cells. One was published in Business Spectator and the other in Science Daily. Science Daily reported on a 2 year pilot program soon to be undertaken in Texas, California and New York where the refrigeration units of frozen food delivery vans […]
Read MoreThe regulator is watching for false claims of energy cost savings or of premium attributes of products penalties but are easily avoidable.
In a speech to lawyers on Friday night, the chairman of the ACCC said that 2 areas of their focus are energy retailers and in particular on claims of discounts and savings available to customers and on the making of credence claims, particularly by the food industry. This includes claiming attributes such as “Australian made”, […]
Read MoreEven accidentally misleading consumers can be costly
Over the past 6 months the ACCC has received over 1000 complaints or enquiries relating to misleading advertising and false representations including claims that are made to improve the appeal of a product to consumers (“credence claims”). Credence claims can include country of origin representations, “green” or environmental claims and representations that products are “organic” […]
Read MoreEnergy price savings and free range ducks
Misleading consumers about the nature of the energy comparison services offered by Energy Watch and the savings that their customers could make when switching retailers, has resulted in the company ( which has gone into liquidation) and its former CEO being ordered by the Federal Court to pay fines of $1.95 million and $65,000 respectively. This comes as […]
Read MoreThe ACCC acts quickly against misleading carbon price claims; do you know what you can say?
The price on carbon has only been with us 5 days and already the ACCC is investigating, or has taken action against, 3 companies for misleading or deceptive conduct in relation to claims, or threatened claims, about the cost to consumers of the carbon price. The ACCC warned businesses that they would take action and have published a guide […]
Read MoreInnovation and Sustainability: giving your company a competetive advantage.
The importance of innovation in business has been highlighted to me twice in as many days. The first occasion was in a presentation that I was fortunate to attend by the futurist and innovation expert, Craig Rispin. Craig talked about the importance of foresight and innovation in setting a company apart from its competitors. Craig’s […]
Read MoreMaking the most of the extra time for Australian Packaging Covenant Reports.
Signatories to the Australian Packaging Covenant now have until 31 March 2012 to report against their first APC Action Plan. If this year is anything to go by, the next 5 months will fly and it’ll be time to review your company’s Plan, sort through the records for the evidence to support compliance with the […]
Read MoreDoes the ACCC have you and your company in their sights?
The ACCC and State regulators of the Australian Consumer Law (“ACL”) will select particular issues and traders to target in line with what they perceive to be the risks and new and emerging issues and enforcement priorities that need addressing. The national projects that the regulators have identified to target for 2011/2012 includes environmental claims, […]
Read MoreAldi takes action in managing its supply chain for the environment
According to The Sun Herald on 3 April all laundry detergent sold in Aldi’s Australian stores will be free of phosphates by 2013. Phosphates in the water supply can cause algal blooms that remove oxygen from the water and result in the death of aquatic life. The Sun Herald article can be read in full: […]
Read MoreWHY BOTHER GOING GREEN?
Companies want to reduce their environmental impact for a number of reasons including: It’s what their customers want; It’s what their staff or management want; It forms part of their Corporate Social Responsibility Policy; They want to save money from the improved efficiency of their business or manufacturing processes; They want to increase productivity; They […]
Read MoreGREEN WASHING
The value to companies of differentiating their goods and services on environmental terms has led to unscrupulous companies engaging in “Greenwashing”. “Greenwashing” is the term that has come to describe the practice of making unsubstantiated, misleading or irrelevant environmental claims overstating the environmental benefits of a product, service, technology or company practice. Making misleading or […]
Read MoreGREEN CLAIMS
What are green claims? Green claims are claims that a product, service, technology or something else is good for the environment or won’t harm the environment or a part of the environment, when compared to current accepted practices. They can appear on labels, packaging, advertisements, promotional material, websites and anywhere in association with the goods, […]
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