The object of this Code is to ensure that advertisers and marketers develop and maintain rigorous standards when making Environmental Claims in Australia.

AANA releases Exposure Draft of new Environmental Claims Code

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Environmental Claims Code

This Code has been adopted by the AANA as part of advertising and marketing self-regulation. The object of this Code is to ensure that advertisers and marketers develop and maintain rigorous standards when making Environmental Claims and to increase consumer confidence to the benefit of the environment, consumers and industry.

This Code is accompanied by a Practice Note which has been developed by the AANA. The Practice note provides guidance to advertisers and complainants, and must be applied by the Advertising Standards Board in making its determinations. In the event of any ambiguity the provisions of the Code prevail.

DEFINITIONS

In this Code, unless the context otherwise requires:

Advertising or Marketing Communication means:
a) any material which is published or broadcast using any Medium or any activity which is undertaken by, or on behalf of an advertiser or marketer,
  • over which the advertiser or marketer has a reasonable degree of control, and
  • that draws the attention of the public in a manner calculated to promote or oppose directly or indirectly a product, service, person, organisation or line of conduct,
b) but does not include
  • labels or packaging for products
  • corporate reports including corporate public affairs messages in press releases and other media statements, annual reports, statements on matters of public policy and the like
  • in the case of broadcast media, any material which promotes a program or programs to be broadcast on that same channel or station.

The definition of ‘advertising or marketing communication’ in the Code does not include ‘labels and packaging’.

Notwithstanding, images of labels or packaging contained within an ‘advertising or marketing communication’ will be considered to be an element of that ‘advertising or marketing communication’.

The community panel means the panel appointed by the Ad Standards from time to time, the members of which are representative of the community, to administer a public complains system in relation to Advertising or Marketing Communication.
Environment includes:
(a) ecosystems and their constituent parts, including people and communities; and
(b) natural and physical resources; and
(c) the qualities and characteristics of locations, places and areas.
Environmental Claim means any express or implied representation that an aspect of a product or service as a whole, or a component or packaging of, or a quality relating to, a product or service, interacts with or influences (or has the capacity to interact with or influence) the Environment.

An environmental claim in relation to goods or services, their consumption/ use/ interaction or their disposal may include representations that state or imply:

  • benefit to the environment; or
  • no effect on the environment; or
  • no or only limited effect on the environment if used or delivered in a particular way.
Medium means any medium whatsoever including without limitation cinema, internet, outdoor media, print, radio, telecommunications, television or other direct-to-consumer media including new and emerging technologies.

SECTION 1 TRUTHFUL AND FACTUAL PRESENTATION

Environmental Claims in Advertising or Marketing Communication:

(a) shall not be misleading or deceptive or be likely to mislead or deceive;
SECTION 1 (a) Practice Note

It is not intended that legal tests be applied to determine whether advertisements are misleading or deceptive, or likely to mislead or deceive, in the areas of concern to this Code.

Instead, consideration will be given as to whether the average consumer in the target market would be likely to be misled or deceived by the material.

Factors to consider include:

An advertisement may be misleading or deceptive directly or by implication or through emphasis, comparisons, contrasts or omissions. It does not matter whether the advertisement actually misled anyone, or whether the advertiser intended to mislead – if the advertisement is likely to mislead or deceive there will be a breach of the Code.

  • The target market or likely audience of the advertising or marketing communication should be carefully considered when making environmental claims. Therefore all advertising should be clear, unambiguous and balanced, and the use of technical or scientific jargon carefully considered.
  • Any comparative claim should be specific and make clear the basis for the comparison. Points of comparison, where appropriate, should reflect a body of evidence including recognised benchmarks or standards where appropriate.
  • Environmental claims relating to future matters or commitments should be based on reasonable grounds as at the time the claim was made, even if the future matter does not come to pass. The fact that a person may believe in a particular state of affairs does not necessarily mean that there are reasonable grounds for the belief.
  • Environmental claims should not lead the consumer to conclude a business has voluntarily adopted an environmental practice if that practice has been legally mandated.
  • Environmental claims should not be made in a manner that implies, directly or indirectly, a correlation between the environmental aspects of the product/service and any social initiative of the advertiser when none exists. For example, the advertising of a “partnership” with or “sponsorship” of an environmental group should not imply that the partnership has improved environmental aspects of the company’s product/ services where this is not the case.
  • The use of any symbol or logo should be explained unless the symbol is required by law, or is underpinned by regulations or standards, or is part of an authoritative certification scheme. Symbols or logos should only be used in an advertisement when the source of the symbol or logo is clearly indicated, and there is no confusion over the meaning.
(b) shall display any disclaimers or important limitations and qualifications prominently, in clear, plain and specific language;
SECTION 1 (b) Practice Note

A disclaimer can clarify, expand or reasonably qualify a representation but should not contradict, diminish or retract it.

As a general guideline, the main body of the advertisement, apart from the disclaimer, should be capable of standing alone without being misleading.

(c) shall represent the attributes or extent of the environmental benefits or limitations as they relate to a particular aspect of a product or service in a manner that can be clearly understood by the consumer.
SECTION 1 (c) Practice Note

The environmental claim should not be extended, or implied to be extended, to a whole product or service when it relates only to one aspect of the product eg packaging or energy use, or service.

For example, if the claim relates to the:

  • packaging only, but not the use of that product, the claim should not imply that it relates to the product as well as the packaging;
  • energy use in the manufacture of a product, the claim should not imply that it relates to the energy use in the manufacture of the packaging as well.

Relevant information should be presented together.

SECTION 2 A GENUINE BENEFIT TO THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Claims must:

(a) be relevant, specific and clearly explain the significance of the claim;
SECTION 2 (a) Practice Note

Environmental claims should only be made where there is a genuine benefit or advantage. Environmental benefits should not be advertised if they are irrelevant, insignificant or simply advertise the observance of existing law.

Advertising and marketing communication should adequately explain the environmental benefits of the advertised product or service to its target audience. It is not the intent of the advertiser making the claim that will determine whether it is considered misleading; it is the overall impression given to the consumer that is important. Advertising therefore should not inadvertently mislead consumers through vague or ambiguous wording.

Providing only partial information to consumers risks misleading them. Generally a claim should refer to a specific part of a product or its production process such as extraction, transportation, manufacture, use, packaging or disposal.

(b) not overstate the claim expressly or by implication;
SECTION 2 (b) Practice Note

Advertisers and marketers should avoid making claims that expressly or impliedly overstate an environmental benefit. Consideration should be given to whether there is sufficient disclosure of any negative impacts. For example, whether negative impacts have been withheld which, if known, would diminish the positive attribute.

(c) not imply that a product or service is more socially acceptable on the whole.
SECTION 2 (c) Practice Note

Consideration should be given to the relationship of the environmental claims to other aspects of a product/service. For example, advertisers should use care not to imply a product or service is more socially acceptable overall by implying another non-environmental attribute/detriment is of lesser importance.

Also refer to AANA Code of Ethics clause 2.6 Advertisements shall not depict material contrary to prevailing community standards on health and safety.

SECTION 3 SUBSTANTIATION

Environmental Claims in Advertising or Marketing Communication:

(a) shall be able to be substantiated and verifiable. Supporting information shall include sufficient detail to allow evaluation of a claim;
SECTION 3 (a) Practice Note

Advertisers and marketers should have a reasonable basis for making a claim and therefore should hold appropriate, balanced, comprehensive and credible evidence to substantiate all express and implied claims. Information to support a claim may include, but is not limited to, documentary evidence or data evidencing conformity with an identified standard, research, studies, or an expert independent audit. There is no requirement to use third party verification or certification before an environmental claim is made. An advertiser’s own internal procedures may be able to provide the necessary substantiation.

In testing the validity of any claim the Board will only rely on information/material provided by the advertiser and the complainant. The Board may seek expert advice to assist in the consideration of material provided in relation to the complaint. It is not the intent for the Board to act as an arbiter of scientific fact, or of philosophical approaches to understanding or addressing environmental concerns.

Factors to consider include:

  • The use of broad or unqualified general claims of environmental benefit should be avoided unless supported by a high level of substantiation or associated with a legitimate connection to an authoritative source. Examples of claims that may be problematic unless properly qualified include: “green”, “environmentally friendly”, “environmentally safe, “energy efficient”, “recyclable”, “carbon neutral, “renewable or “green energy”.
  • The use of unqualified general claims of environmental benefit should be avoided unless supported by a high level of substantiation or associated with a legitimate connection to an authoritative source.
  • An unqualified general environmental claim may convey that the product or service has far-reaching environmental benefits or conveys to consumers a broad range of environmental attributes it does not have. Unqualified claims (stated or implied), such as ‘green’ or ‘eco friendly’ should therefore be evidenced with a high level of substantiation, for example, such as that based on a full life-cycle assessment.
  • Publication of research results should identify the researcher and source reference unless there is an obligation of confidence or compelling commercial reason not to do so.
  • Substantiation information should be readily accessible, or made available in a timely manner in response to a reasonable written request.

Advertisers have a variety of avenues available for making such information available to consumers, for example, websites, brochures, labels, shelf-talkers; such information does not need to be included in the advertising or marketing communications itself.

(b) shall meet any applicable standards that apply to the benefit or advantage claimed;
SECTION 3 (b) Practice Note

This section applies to legally mandated standards. It will also apply in circumstances where the advertiser makes a representation in the advertising or marketing communication that it complies with a voluntary standard.

(c) containing testimonials shall reflect the genuine, informed and current opinion of the person giving the testimonial.
SECTION 3 (c) Practice Note

Testimonials should reflect the genuine, informed and current opinion of the person giving the testimonial. Similarly, claims relating to sponsorships, approvals, endorsement or certification schemes should be current.

This section does not form part of the AANA Environmental Claims Code and is provided here for information only.

COMPLAINTS UNDER THE AANA SELF-REGULATORY SYSTEM

Complaints about the content of an advertisement or marketing communication can be made under this Code and the other AANA Codes to the Ad Standards1.

Once the Ad Standards has received your complaint, it then assesses the complaint to determine whether it is eligible for consideration by the Ad Standards Community Panel. The Community Panel is the body established to consider complaints. If accepted the advertiser/marketer is notified and a response is requested. The complaint is then considered by the Community Panel and the advertiser and complainant are advised of the determination. A case report is then published. The original complainant or advertiser/marketer can also ask for a review of the determination.

You can make a complaint by:

Ad Standards
PO BOX 5110
BRADDON
ACT 2612

1 If your complaint is about a program (not an advertisement) on television or radio, please contact the relevant industry body.

CODE ADMINISTRATION Effective Date: 01 May 2018