Post by account_disabled on Feb 17, 2024 21:35:24 GMT -8
Greenwashing is rife on food packaging and in advertising, misleading consumers and undermining companies that actually adopt sustainable practices. Additionally, it puts investors at risk by creating the wrong perception of the company's claims.
That's the conclusion of a new report from Middle East Mobile Number List the Changing Markets Foundation , an advocacy organization driving the shift toward a more sustainable economy, which evaluated the environmental claims made by a number of major food and beverage brands, according to Business Green .
Food brands do greenwashing
This report is published on the same day that the European Union (EU) will publish its long-awaited rules to regulate environmental claims made by companies. The report argues that the practice of making false or exaggerated claims about a product's environmental credentials, known as greenwashing , has become a significant business risk.
During the year-long investigation, 51 cases of greenwashing were discovered. These included practices such as the use of the terms “climate positive” or “carbon neutral” by companies with a large climate footprint, suggesting they are more environmentally friendly than they actually are.
Cases are also mentioned where environmental claims are made that only apply to part of a company's products or operations, suggesting that the entire company is more sustainable than it actually is. This is important because consumers can be misled by these claims and make purchasing decisions based on false or misleading information.
For example, Saputo's popular Cathedral City cheese is marketed with images of cows grazing in green pastures. However, according to research, the cattle that produce the cheese are fed at least in part on soybeans that have been linked to Amazon deforestation.
Misleading climate claims
Meanwhile, Jack Link's is also one of thousands of companies labeling products "Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly," in reference to retail giant Amazon's initiative to encourage companies to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. However, this should not be considered “climate friendly” as beef jerky is linked to significant climate impacts. The company only meets the packaging requirements of Amazon's initiative called "Compact by Design."
According to research, the most common form of greenwashing in the food sector is the use of climate claims such as "carbon neutral", "climate friendly" and " net zero " to describe products from companies with a disproportionate carbon footprint and plans to purchase offsets to meet your goals.
The report also calls out a lack of commitment from food brands by pointing to very distant climate targets, even after 2050, leading consumers to believe that emissions cuts are happening now.
Greenwashing in the food sector
Meat and dairy sectors lead environmental deception
Nusa Urbancic, campaign director of the organization Changing Markets Foundation, denounces that in the food industry, meat and dairy lead the irresponsibility in false sustainability claims. “These claims provide a veneer of sustainability for an industry that is responsible for a third of global methane emissions and is the main driver of biodiversity loss…” she says.
The report also highlights that companies that carry out greenwashing are benefiting, as there is a clear business opportunity for companies that capitalize on environmental concerns. Responsible consumption has become one of the main concerns of food and beverage buyers.
A survey by YouGov of more than 4,000 German and British adults found that one in 10 people place environmental concerns among the top three factors influencing purchasing decisions, while one in five rate animal welfare as a priority. .
In this context, the report is an urgent call to take action against misleading claims that not only harm consumers and ongoing climate change, but also pose a great risk to those companies that are making the necessary investments to develop products. and more sustainable processes.
That's the conclusion of a new report from Middle East Mobile Number List the Changing Markets Foundation , an advocacy organization driving the shift toward a more sustainable economy, which evaluated the environmental claims made by a number of major food and beverage brands, according to Business Green .
Food brands do greenwashing
This report is published on the same day that the European Union (EU) will publish its long-awaited rules to regulate environmental claims made by companies. The report argues that the practice of making false or exaggerated claims about a product's environmental credentials, known as greenwashing , has become a significant business risk.
During the year-long investigation, 51 cases of greenwashing were discovered. These included practices such as the use of the terms “climate positive” or “carbon neutral” by companies with a large climate footprint, suggesting they are more environmentally friendly than they actually are.
Cases are also mentioned where environmental claims are made that only apply to part of a company's products or operations, suggesting that the entire company is more sustainable than it actually is. This is important because consumers can be misled by these claims and make purchasing decisions based on false or misleading information.
For example, Saputo's popular Cathedral City cheese is marketed with images of cows grazing in green pastures. However, according to research, the cattle that produce the cheese are fed at least in part on soybeans that have been linked to Amazon deforestation.
Misleading climate claims
Meanwhile, Jack Link's is also one of thousands of companies labeling products "Amazon Climate Pledge Friendly," in reference to retail giant Amazon's initiative to encourage companies to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040. However, this should not be considered “climate friendly” as beef jerky is linked to significant climate impacts. The company only meets the packaging requirements of Amazon's initiative called "Compact by Design."
According to research, the most common form of greenwashing in the food sector is the use of climate claims such as "carbon neutral", "climate friendly" and " net zero " to describe products from companies with a disproportionate carbon footprint and plans to purchase offsets to meet your goals.
The report also calls out a lack of commitment from food brands by pointing to very distant climate targets, even after 2050, leading consumers to believe that emissions cuts are happening now.
Greenwashing in the food sector
Meat and dairy sectors lead environmental deception
Nusa Urbancic, campaign director of the organization Changing Markets Foundation, denounces that in the food industry, meat and dairy lead the irresponsibility in false sustainability claims. “These claims provide a veneer of sustainability for an industry that is responsible for a third of global methane emissions and is the main driver of biodiversity loss…” she says.
The report also highlights that companies that carry out greenwashing are benefiting, as there is a clear business opportunity for companies that capitalize on environmental concerns. Responsible consumption has become one of the main concerns of food and beverage buyers.
A survey by YouGov of more than 4,000 German and British adults found that one in 10 people place environmental concerns among the top three factors influencing purchasing decisions, while one in five rate animal welfare as a priority. .
In this context, the report is an urgent call to take action against misleading claims that not only harm consumers and ongoing climate change, but also pose a great risk to those companies that are making the necessary investments to develop products. and more sustainable processes.