British Gas Reprimanded for Greenwashing

January 31, 2008

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

The Advertising Standards Authority said that British Gas broke advertising rules by describing its “greenest” dual fuel package as “zero carbon” in a TV commercial. Fourteen viewers complained it produced CO2 as a by-product, prompting an investigation in which the ASA found the commercial in breach of five advertising rules including environmental claims. It told the company not to repeat the commercial in its current form. British Gas began its new green campaign this past fall.

And in a newspaper advertisement, British Gas described its Zero Carbon deal as “… the greenest domestic energy tariff compared to those on the energywatch website,” but the ASA said the “greenest domestic energy tariff” claim was misleading because it could not be proven and was not audited by an independent authority. British Gas said energywatch had not ranked the firm’s green tariffs, and in the absence of an external assessment the company did its own comparison.

British Airways was recently reprimanded by the ASA over emissions claims it had made.

In the U.S., The FTC held its first workshop on green advertising earlier this month. The agency’s plan is to update its “green guides.”

Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Stay competitive through sustainability.

Find out how at the SAP Sustainability Resource Center. >>

Unclear about the EPA's new GHG Rule?

Learn how it could affect your business. >>

EPA mandatory emissions reporting starts Jan 1st

CSA Standards can help your organization get ready for compliance. Find out how. >>

Survey Results: Product Environmental Compliance Best Practices

How to achieve compliance at a significantly lower cost. Download the full report. >>

Join the Discussion

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

11/20/2009
11/19/2009
11/18/2009

Charts [ see all ]

European Paper Industry Cuts CO2 Emissions by 42% since 1990

S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks

Nike Tops Annual Climate Action Scores

Oceans May Trap more Carbon than Forests

Jobs

View All Jobs >> Post a Job >>

Comments and Discussions

Trade Association on Trade Group on EPA Chemical Regs: ‘If Everything is a Priority, Then Nothing is a Priority’
"Seriously… that..."

Gary Markowitz on Supermarkets Tackle Emissions Reductions, Fuel Efficiency
"Supermarkets waste over 10 percent of their energy through improper..."

peter in ireland on Ontario May Follow California’s Lead on TV Energy Efficiency
"Governor Schwarzenegger is shooting himself in the foot! 1...."

Environmental Leader on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"The survey respondents (the PDF report mentions 4,000 respondents in 38..."

Jake on UPS Trying New Hydraulic Hybrid Trucks
"A point of clarification: the Reuters press release referenced herein reports that 20 UPS will purchase..."

Custom Organic Shirts on S. America Takes Most Urgent View of Copenhagen Talks
"90% of North Americans believe it is urgent to get a global climate..."

peter dublin on California City’s Green Building Ordinance Applies to Commercial Buildings
"Why energy efficiebnt regulation on buildings –..."

Environmental Leader