Greenwashing allegations: Coca Cola and Swisscom are being plundered

class = “sc-cffd1e67-0 fmXrkB”>

There is hardly a company that is not committed to sustainability and climate protection. This is well received by customers who are increasingly aware of environmental issues and is beneficial for sales.

However, the Consumer Protection Foundation criticizes the proliferation of such promises regarding environmental compatibility and neutrality of pollutants: Director General Sara Stalder wrote to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (Seco) a year ago in Engadin St. Moritz Mountains complained about unfair advertising by mountain railways. Following Seco’s intervention, the company corrected its claim to offer climate-neutral snow sports.

Head of Consumer Protection Legal Affairs Daniela Mauchle says federal legal requirements are necessary to prevent customers from being misled. Consumer protection, with complaints lodged with the Swiss Fair Trade Commission and Seco, which takes action against inauthentic and deceptive advertising, has condemned statements made by other companies in recent months that it considers untrue. “Greenwashing is so common, Seco needs to take action,” says Mauchle.

Accusations of unfair advertising for promises to protect the climate also target well-known companies such as Coca-Cola, Swisscom, car rental company Avis and Zurich Zoo.

Seco spokesman Fabian Maienfisch confirmed that the State Secretariat had notified many companies in recent months of untrue statements that “climate-free or similar” were in breach of the justice law. Seco does not disclose which companies these are. In addition to the request to refrain from false advertising, the competent authority may file a civil lawsuit or criminal complaint against individuals or companies if this request is not taken into account. However, Maien-fisch restricts: “Seco has not yet filed a criminal complaint for this reason.

Swisscom rejects criticism

However, as company spokesman Reyn Ffoulkes confirmed, the authority made representations to Coca-Cola. “We are currently in communication with Seco.” It concerns, among other things, a defunct advertising campaign for Valser Wasser, a Coca Cola brand. The slogan promised that mineral water would be delivered from the source to the customer’s home in a climate-neutral way.

Ffoulkes emphasizes that the company strictly adheres to the laws and regulations applicable in Switzerland in all its activities. “However, we take the allegations seriously and seek to communicate transparently.”

Swisscom also acknowledges that it should report to Seco. “He asked us to provide evidence that the advertising claim ‘services and products that do not harm the climate’ is true,” says spokeswoman Sabrina Hubacher. Swisscom is now clarifying whether a regulation is necessary. However, information on climate neutrality was externally controlled. “Swisscom rejects criticism from consumer protection as unfair.”

Car rental company Avis does not want to comment on correspondence with Seco. A spokesperson states that no information will be given on this matter.

Real estate agent Selly also has to justify herself in Bern. The company was ordered by Seco to retract its statements regarding the company’s climate neutrality. CEO Philippe Trütsch emphasizes that an external partner certifies them. Nevertheless, Seco’s demands were implemented in a timely manner and the collaboration with the external partner was terminated. Agent Selly continues to take climate protection very seriously, Trütsch emphasizes.

Consumer protection also accuses Zurich Zoo of greenwashing. Communications director Dominik Ryser emphasized that it was all about an incomplete certificate to offset emissions. This is now supported and documented. The zoo continually reduces CO2 emissions and offsets the rest with a project that meets high standards, according to Ryser.

“Climate-positive” kids’ porridge and climate-neutral helicopter rides

Legal requirements regarding greenwashing are still missing – an article on this could be included in the new CO2 law – but the Swiss Fair Trade Commission published guidelines on the subject in November. It regulates “commercial communication with environmental references and environmental arguments”.

The fairness commission also accepts complaints from consumer protection and criticizes advertising by Winterthur heating oil company Kübler as well as children’s food manufacturer Hipp. Kübler apologizes online and corrects that there is no climate-neutral heating oil, but the company is certified climate-neutral.

Clemens Preysing, a spokesman for Hipp, a company whose label on a children’s porridge jar claims it is “climate positive”, said the packaging had not been delivered for a year and had been removed from the market. Hipp remains committed to its corporate goal of making a positive impact on the climate.

The fairness commission’s decision on the complaint against the headquartered Swiss helicopter company Elite Flights is still pending. They even claim to offer climate-neutral helicopter tours.

Source :Blick