The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has taken legal action against a popular Australian brand of plastic bags for allegedly making false “greenwashing” claims. Clorox Australia Pty Ltd, the Australian arm of The Clorox Company, which produces GLAD-branded kitchen and garbage bags, is facing allegations of breaching consumer laws by misleading consumers with claims that some of their bags were made from recycled “ocean plastic.”
The ACCC contends that the bags were actually made from plastic sourced from villages in Indonesia, some of which were located up to 50 kilometers away from the ocean. The ACCC is seeking declarations, penalties, injunctions, and costs in this case.
ACCC Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb stated, “We allege that the ‘ocean plastic’ statements and imagery on the GLAD bag packaging created a false impression that these bags were made from plastic waste collected from the ocean, when this was not the case.” The packaging did include small qualifying statements indicating that the bags were made from 50 percent ocean recycled plastic, but the ACCC argues that the overall messaging was misleading.
Clorox has voluntarily removed the affected products from sale as of July 2023. With consumers increasingly prioritizing sustainability in their purchasing decisions, the ACCC is committed to holding businesses accountable for accurate environmental claims. This enforcement action is part of the ACCC’s broader efforts to combat greenwashing practices in the market.
In a similar case, yoghurt manufacturer MOO Premium Foods Pty Ltd was also targeted by the ACCC for misleading claims about their packaging materials. After an investigation, MOO Premium Foods agreed to update their packaging design, remove references to “ocean bound plastic,” and implement a compliance program to ensure accurate environmental claims in their advertising.
The ACCC’s campaign against greenwashing practices underscores the importance of transparency and truthfulness in environmental claims made by businesses. Consumers rely on accurate information to make informed purchasing decisions, and the ACCC is committed to upholding integrity in the marketplace. Please rewrite the following sentence:
“The cat ran quickly across the street.”
Rewritten sentence:
The feline swiftly sprinted across the road.
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