Not sure what “greenwashing” is? Canadian companies are right there with you.
What happened: The Competition Bureau is looking into how it will implement the country’s new anti-greenwashing rules. The move to clarify what constitutes a violation and what standards will be used to measure corporate truthfulness comes after complaints from the oil industry.
Catch-up: In June, the feds passed Bill C-59, which includes an amendment to the Competition Act recognizing environmental claims as an avenue for false advertising. Companies unable to back up their claims can be taken to court and face hefty fines.
- After the law came into force, the Pathways Alliance — a group of six oilsands giants promoting carbon capture plans to cut industry emissions — essentially scrubbed its website and claimed it needed more clarity from the bureau.
Why it matters: Kind of like “brat summer,” greenwashing is a catchy term that’s tossed around but isn’t very well-defined. The bureau’s consultation will give consumers a clearer idea of what greenwashing entails and let companies know what practices they should stop.
Big picture: Ahead of the consultation, the bureau released some potential greenwashing examples, like companies publishing over-ambitious plans to reduce emissions or creating the impression of stopping fossil fuel usage when they’re just buying carbon credits.—QH