Ad Watchdog Bans ‘Green’ Words From Car Ads

September 12, 2007

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Norway’s state-run advertising watchdog has issued guidelines to advertisers that says, ” “We ask that … phrases such as ‘environmentally friendly’, ‘green’, ‘clean’, ‘environmental car’, ‘natural’ or similar descriptions not be used in marketing cars,” Reuters reports (via Terrapass). Even mentioning the word carbon dioxide draws a red flag.

Carmakers such as Toyota, General Motor’s Opel, Mitsubishi, Peugeot Citroen, Saab and Suzuki had all used phrases this year in advertisements that the watchdog judged misleading.

Cars cannot do anything good for the environment except less damage than others, an official at the watchdog said.

Carmakers would risk fines if they failed to drop the words.

Green car claims have been criticized before. In May, a magazine ad campaign for the Lexus RX 400h was banned by the UK’s advertising watchdog.

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Reader Comments

At last! I’ve said that if the “greens” could have branded the word for licensing, all the hot air and greenwashing these past years by corporates would at least have generated funds for benefiting our environment!

Graham | September 12th, 2007

It’s kind of disgusting how corporations can corrupt something good in the name of consumerism. If they’re really serious about being green, then why don’t they get behind the Kyoto Accord?

Mary E. | September 14th, 2007

I totally agree with the idea that car makers are after their profit .period. Nothing good comes out these groups. I like the comment someone left “If theyÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re really serious about being green, then why donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t they get behind the Kyoto Accord?Ã¢â‚¬? It says it all. Please donÃ¢â‚¬â„¢t fool people and no matter how much afford you make people are smatter.

Mehdi Amin | September 14th, 2007

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