A Lexus magazine ad campaign for the Lexus RX 400h has been banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog, MediaGuardian reports. The ad headline read: “High performance. Low emissions. Zero guilt.”
Complainants made to the Advertising Standards Authority said that the claims misleadingly implied that the car caused little or no harm to the environment.
The watchdog ruled that Lexus could not make such comparisons and claims of environmental friendliness in future car ads if they could not be proved.
“We weren’t trying to be misleading and any changes that are needed, we will certainly make,” the Scotsman reports a Lexus spokesman as saying. “It wasn’t that we were trying to make a claim that was unsustainable. The car has low emissions compared to, say, a Land Rover or another 4×4. That is the message we were trying to communicate.”
Lexus has been intensifying its hybrid advertising recently. Last month, it was the sole sponsor of an online-only bonus issue of Th Week. In March, Lexus showed off its hybrids as the first advertiser on CNN’s free ad-supported mobile site.
Retailers, Developers and Eco-Business Leaders...learn about green retail trends, consumer buying habits and sustainable business practices. Register NOW to Attend!
The 2008 Green Leaders Survey collects sustainability program insights from business and civic leaders. Learn from peers what works and what doesn't. Take survey>>
Recycling rates in the U.S. are low and getting lower. The U.S., by far the world's biggest consumer of aluminum ... continue »
Nearly three-quarters (73 percent) of financial institution executives say they plan to build new or undergo a major remodel of an existing ...
click to view full size chart »
This promotional video features restaurateurs discussing sustainable solutions and Conserve, the environmental initiative of the National Restaurant Association....
Join the Discussion