Consumer News

Companies Accused of Greenwashing

When companies green it, they better mean it.

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Consumer News

Companies Accused of Greenwashing

A majority of U.S. consumers prefer environmentally friendly products, and are even willing to pay more for them. As a result, many companies have claimed their products benefit the environment, but frequently — according to various sources — that turns out not to be true.

This is called greenwashing, i.e., claiming something is better for the environment than it actually is.

Here’s a roundup of companies that have been accused of greenwashing in class-action and private lawsuits and by various regulatory entities, including municipal, state, federal and international regulators, and self-regulatory bodies, as well as watchdog groups, and, of course, TINA.org.

(Note: NAD is the National Advertising Division, the ad industry’s self-regulatory body in the U.S., ASA refers to the U.K.’s Advertising Standards Authority and FTC is the U.S. consumer protection agency.)

Product/Company

(Date/Source)

Environmental Claim(s) at Issue

(Outcome)

Nike’s Sustainability Collection

(May 2023/class action)

Environmentally friendly, made with recycled fibers and sustainable materials, transitioning to zero carbon and waste

(Pending)

Etihad Airways

(April 2023/ASA)

Sustainable aviation

(Company told to not exaggerate environmental impact of flying)

Arm & Hammer Clean Burst laundry detergent

(April 2023/class action)

Environmentally friendly

(Pending)

Kohl’s textiles

(April 2023/class action)

Environmentally friendly

(Pending)

Walmart textiles

(March 2023/class-action)

Environmentally friendly

(Pending)

Lomi countertop composter

(March 2023/ad alert)

Compostable

(TINA.org notified the company of its findings)

Gain Aroma Boost laundry detergent

(March 2023/class action)

Environmentally friendly

(Pending)

Weiman cleaning products

(March 2023/NAD)

Non-toxic, eco-friendly

(Company agreed to discontinue challenged claims)

Mrs. Paul’s and Van De Kamp’s seafood

(March 2023/class action)

Sustainable

(Pending)

Bumble Bee seafood

(March 2023/class action)

Sustainable

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Great Value and Sam’s Choice seafood

(March 2023/class action)

Sustainable

(Pending)

Toyota vehicles

(March 2023/international environmental group)

Committed to clean cars

(Pending)

Lufthansa airline

(March 2023/ASA)

Protecting the future of the world

(Company told to cease ambiguous and unsubstantiated environmental benefit claims)

o.b. Organic tampons

(Feb. 2023/class action)

Chemical-free

(Pending)

Glad Recycling Bags

(Feb./class action)

Appropriate for recycling

(Pending)

Mercer investments

(Feb. 2023/international regulator)

Sustainable

(Pending)

One Health Certification Foundation

(Feb. 2023/NAD)

Minimizes the impact of animal production on the environment

(Company appealed recommended advertising changes)

Tampax Pure Cotton tampons

(Feb. 2023/class action)

Chemical-free

(Pending)

JBS food company

(Feb. 2023/NAD)

Net zero emissions

(Company appealed recommended advertising changes)

WaterWipes baby and adult care wipes

(Feb. 2023/class action)

Biodegradable

(Settled and voluntarily dismissed)

Dyper diapers

(Jan. 2023/NAD)

Biodegradable

(Company agreed to make recommended advertising changes)

BioSteel sports drink

(Jan. 2023/class action)

Clean, eco-friendly

(Pending)

2022

Product/Company

(Date/Source)

Environmental Claim(s) at Issue

(Outcome)

American Beverage Association’s Every Bottle Back recycling initiative

(Nov./NAD)

Reduces plastic waste

(Company agreed to make recommended advertising changes)

H&M clothing

(Nov./class action)

Sustainable

(Pending)

WaterWipes baby and adult care wipes

(Nov./class action)

Biodegradable

(Pending)

Hefty “recycling” bags

(Oct./class action)

Appropriate for recycling

(Settled)

Evian Natural Spring Water

(Oct./class action)

Carbon neutral

(Pending)

HSBC bank

(Oct./ASA)

Net zero emissions

(Company told to remove ads)

Tampax Pure Cotton tampons

(Sept./class action)

Plant-based, compostable, biodegradable

(Pending)

Grimmway products, including carrots, juices and protein drinks

(Sept./class action)

Eco-friendly

(Pending)

United Airlines’ customer carbon offset program

(Sept./ad alert)

Carbon offsets

(After TINA.org notified United of its findings, the company removed some of its “offset your flight” claims)

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ CO2ZERO program

(Sept./class action)

Carbon offsets

(Pending)

Aldi tuna

(Aug./class action)

Dolphin safe

(Pending)

The Higg Index

(Aug./ad alert)

Sustainable

(Under review)

Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles

(Aug./international sustainability group)

Environmentally friendly

(Company said it was clarifying the ads)

ECOS household cleaners and other products

(Aug./class action)

Non-toxic, earth friendly

(Pending)

Kirkland albacore tuna

(July/class action)

Dolphin safe

(Pending)

H&M clothing

(July/class action)

Sustainable, conscious

(Pending)

Hefty “recycling” bags

(July/class action)

Appropriate for recycling

(Settled)

Great Value “recycling” bags

(July/class action)

Appropriate for recycling

(Settled)

KLM airline

(July/international environmental groups)

Sustainable

(Pending)

SKKN by Kim

(June/ad alert)

Sustainable

(TINA.org notified the company of its findings)

Hefty “recycling” bags

(June/state)

Appropriate for recycling

(Pending)

FIFA World Cup

(May/international watchdog)

Carbon neutral

(FIFA rejected report’s findings)

Thinx

(May/class action)

Sustainable

(Settled)

Gorton’s tilapia

(April/class action)

Sustainably sourced

(Settled)

Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) waterproof apparel

(April/class action)

Sustainable

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Transitions2Earth utensils

(April/class action)

Biodegradable

(Voluntarily dismissed)

CAVA grain and salad bowls

(April/class action)

Sustainable

(Pending)

Burger King Whopper and French fries

(April/class action)

Sustainable

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Burt’s Bees cosmetics

(April/class action)

Safe and responsible sourcing

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Walmart textiles

(April/FTC)

Eco-friendly, sustainable

(Settled)

Kohl’s textiles

(April/FTC)

Eco-friendly, sustainable

(Settled)

McDonald’s Big Mac and other items

(March/class action)

Sustainable

(Pending)

TotalEnergies

(March/international environmental groups)

Carbon neutral

(Pending)

Chipotle

(March/NAD)

Sustainable

(Company agreed to make recommended changes)

Matter disposable plates, bowls and food storage bags

(Feb./class action)

Compostable

(Pending)

Simply Gum

(Feb./NAD)

Biodegradable, better for the planet

(Referred to the FTC)

Green Gobbler Drain Clog Dissolver

(Feb./NAD)

Environmentally friendly

(Company agreed to implement recommended changes)

Earth Rated dog poop bags

(Feb./class action)

Compostable

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Whole Foods rice

(Jan./class action)

Sustainable

(Dismissed)

Oatly oat milk

(Jan./ASA)

Environmentally friendly

(Company told to remove ad)

2021

Product/Company

(Date/Source)

Environmental Claim(s) at Issue

(Outcome)

ZORBX

(Dec./class action)

Non-toxic, safe for the planet

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Earth Rated dog poop bags

(Dec./class action)

Compostable

(Pending)

Republic Services Recycling

(Nov./class action)

Recyclable

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Shell

(Nov./international environmental group)

Carbon neutral

(Pending)

Up & Up sunscreens

(Oct./class action)

Reef friendly

(Settled)

7-Eleven

(Oct./class action)

Recyclable

(Pending)

Everlane ReNew clothing

(Oct./NAD)

Environmentally friendly

(Company agreed to make recommended changes)

Drax Group

(Oct./private)

Carbon neutral

(Pending)

Alba Botanica Hawaiian sunscreens

(Oct./class action)

Reef friendly

(Pending)

Kroger sunscreens

(Oct./class action)

Reef friendly

(Pending)

Hawaiian Tropic sunscreens

(Oct./class action)

Reef friendly

(Dismissed; appeal filed)

Quilted Northern

(Sept./NAD)

Sustainable

(Company agreed to make recommended changes)

Banana Boat sunscreens

(Sept./class action)

Reef friendly

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Banana Boat sunscreens

(Sept./class action)

Reef friendly

(Pending)

Santos

(Aug./international watchdog)

Clean, net zero emissions

(Pending)

Shell

(Aug./international regulator)

Carbon offsets

(Company lost appeal to withdraw ads)

Firstgas

(July/ASA)

Zero carbon gas

(Company told to remove ad)

Arrowhead, Poland Spring, Niagara, Kirkland and other bottled water brands

(July/class action)

Recyclable

(Dismissed)

Niagara, Kirkland and other bottled water brands

(July/class action)

Recyclable

(Dismissed)

Dasani, Poland Spring and other bottled water brands

(June/class action)

Recyclable

(Pending)

Red Lobster seafood

(June/class action)

Sustainable

(Pending)

Allbirds running shoes

(June/class action)

Low carbon footprint, sustainable

(Dismissed)

The Coca-Cola Company

(June/environmental group)

Sustainable, environmentally friendly

(Dismissed)

Hefty “recycling” bags

(May/class action)

Recyclable

(Voluntarily dismissed)

ALDI Atlantic salmon

(May/environmental and food group)

Sustainable

(Pending)

ALDI Atlantic salmon

(May/class action)

Sustainable

(Pending)

Earth Rated dog poop bags

(May/ad alert)

Compostable

(After TINA.org notified Earth Rated of its findings, the company added a disclaimer noting that “[i]ndustrial composting of pet waste is not currently available in the USA”)

ExxonMobil, Shell and BP gas

(April/municipal)

Cleaner, reduces emissions

(Pending)

Kingsford hardwood briquettes

(Feb./class action)

Cleaner burn, environmentally friendly

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Tide purclean laundry detergent

(Jan./class action)

Plant-based

(Voluntarily dismissed)

2020

Product/Company

(Date/Source)

Environmental Claim(s) at Issue

(Outcome)

Repellem and Eco-Friendly trash bags

(Dec./class action)

 Biodegradable, eco-friendly

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Chinet disposable plates and bowls

(Nov./class action)

Eco-friendly, compostable

(Settled)

Blueland cleaning products

(Oct./NAD)

Recyclable

(Company modified its advertising)

Keurig Green Mountain coffee pods

(Sept./class action)

Recyclable

(Stayed)

ExxonMobil

(Sept./state)

Committed to combating climate change

(Pending)

Quorn Foods

(Sept./ASA)

Reduces carbon footprint

(Company told to ensure that the basis of any environmental claims was made clear)

Tide purclean laundry detergent

(Aug./class action)

Plant-based

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Tide purclean laundry detergent

(Aug./NAD)

Plant-based

(Company agreed to modify its advertising)

Butterball turkey

(Aug./NAD)

Sustainable

(Company agreed to comply with recommended changes)

Shell Go+

(July/ASA)

Carbon neutral

(Company told to remove ad)

Kroger disposable plates and bowls

(June/class action)

Compostable

(Settled)

RegrowAustralia bracelets

(June/ad alert)

Reforestation (tree-planting

(Company stood by its marketing and business practices in response to an inquiry by TINA.org)

Cascade Platinum dishwasher detergent

(June/ad alert)

Saves water

(TINA.org notified the company of its findings)

Amazon disposable plates and bowls

(June/class action)

Compostable

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Albertsons, Safeway and Lucerne Foods disposable plates and bowls

(May/class action)

Compostable

(Settled)

Simple Green cleaning products

(May/class action)

Non-toxic

(Settled)

Krud Kutter cleaning products

(May/class action)

Non-toxic, earth friendly

(Pending)

Method household cleaners

(May/class action)

Non-toxic

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Windex Vinegar window cleaner

(May/class action)

Non-toxic

(Pending)

Windex window cleaner

(May/class action)

Non-toxic

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Ryanair

(Feb./ASA)

Low emissions

(Company told to remove the ads)

Treehuggers bracelets

(Feb./ad alert)

Reforestation (tree-planting)

(TINA.org notified the company of its findings)

4Amazonia bracelets

(Jan./ad alert)

Reforestation (tree-planting)

(TINA.org notified the company of its findings)

2019

Product/Company

(Date/Source)

Environmental Claim(s) at Issue

(Outcome)

BP gas

(2019/international environmental group)

Cleaner burning, a perfect partner to renewables

(Company withdrew ad campaign)

GreenPan cookware

(Sept./class action)

Environmentally friendly

(Settled)

StarKist tuna

(May/class action)

Dolphin safe

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Fancy Feast tuna

(May/class action)

Dolphin safe

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Chicken of the Sea tuna

(May/class action)

Dolphin safe

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Bumble Bee tuna

(May/class action)

Dolphin safe

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Nestlé chocolate

(April/class action)

Sustainably sourced

(Voluntarily dismissed)

2018

Product/Company

(Date/Source)

Environmental Claim(s) at Issue

(Outcome)

Keurig Green Mountain coffee pods

(Sept./class action)

Recyclable

(Settled)

Kirkland Signature cleaning products

(May/class action)

Environmentally responsible, green, non-toxic

(Voluntarily dismissed)

BMW X5 and 355d diesel vehicles

(March/class action)

Clean, environmentally friendly

(Pending)

BetterBrew Eco coffee pods

(Jan./class action)

Compostable

(Remanded to state court)

Ford F-250 and F-350 diesel vehicles

(Early 2018/class action)

Clean, environmentally friendly

(Voluntarily dismissed)

2017

Product/Company

(Date/Source)

Environmental Claim(s) at Issue

(Outcome)

Moonlight Slumber baby mattresses

(Sept./FTC)

Eco-friendly, plant-based

(Settled)

Muralo Paints

(July/FTC)

Emission- and chemical-free

(Settled)

Benjamin Moore paints

(July/FTC)

Emission- and chemical-free

(Settled)

Lullaby and ECOS paints

(July/FTC)

Emission- and chemical-fee

(Settled)

YOLO Colorhouse paints

(July/FTC)

Emission- and chemical-free

(Settled)

Kauai coffee pods

(May/NAD)

Compostable

(Company agreed to prominently disclose that coffee pods are not certified for backyard composting)

2016

Product/Company

(Date/Source)

Environmental Claim(s) at Issue

(Outcome)

Volkswagen vehicles

(Sept./international regulator)

Clean, environmentally friendly

(Financial penalty)

Chevrolet Cruz

(July/class action)

Clean diesel

(Pending)

LEI Eco Alkaline batteries

(March/NAD)

Carbon neutral

(Referred to the FTC)

Volkswagen vehicles

(March/FTC)

Clean diesel, low emission, environmentally friendly

(Settled)

Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC vehicles

(Early 2016/class actions)

Clean diesel, earth friendly

(Settled)

Natural American Spirit cigarettes

(2016/class actions)

Earth friendly

(Pending)

Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles

(Early 2016/class actions)

Clean diesel, environmentally friendly

(Pending with some claims settled)

2015

Product/Company

(Date/Source)

Environmental Claim(s) at Issue

(Outcome)

Volkswagen and Audi diesel vehicles

(Late 2015/class actions)

Clean diesel, environmentally friendly

(Pending with some claims settled)

Nordstrom textiles

(Dec./FTC)

Environmentally friendly

(Settled)

J.C. Penney textiles

(Dec./FTC)

Environmentally friendly

(Settled)

Bed Bath & Beyond textiles

(Dec./FTC)

Environmentally friendly

(Settled)

Backcountry.com textiles

(Dec./FTC)

Environmentally friendly

(Settled)

Charmin Freshmates wipes

(April/class action)

Flushable

(Settled)

Rainforest Alliance

(April/private)

Earth friendly

(Settled)

2014

Product/Company

(Date/Source)

Environmental Claim(s) at Issue

(Outcome)

Engineered Plastic Systems plastic lumber

(July/FTC)

Made of recycled plastics

(Settled)

American Plastic Lumber

(June/FTC)

Made of recycled plastics

(Settled)

Renew Plastics plastic lumber

(Feb./FTC)

Made of recycled materials, recyclable

(Settled)

gDiapers diaper systems

(Jan./FTC)

Biodegradable, compostable, plastic-free

(Settled)

2013

Product/Company

(Date/Source)

Environmental Claim(s) at Issue

(Outcome)

Green Foot Global fuel additives

(Nov./FTC)

Increases fuel economy, reduces emissions

(Settled)

Champ plastic golf tees

(Oct./FTC)

Biodegradable

(Settled)

Enviroplastics International plastic additives

(Oct./FTC)

Biodegradable

(Company prohibited from making claims at issue; appeal denied)

Farberware EcoFresh plastic food storage containers

(Oct./FTC)

Biodegradable

(Settled)

Carnie Cap plastic rebar cap covers

(Oct./FTC)

Biodegradable

(Settled)

American Plastic Manufacturing plastic shopping bags

(Oct./FTC)

Biodegradable

(Settled)

Nature’s Own Green Label paper plates

(Oct./FTC)

Biodegradable, compostable, recyclable

(Settled)

Relief-Mart mattresses

(July/FTC)

Chemical-free

(Settled)

Essentia Natural Memory Foam mattresses

(July/FTC)

Chemical-free

(Settled)

EcoBaby Organics mattresses

(July/FTC)

Chemical-free

(Settled)

Nest thermostats

(June/NAD)

Eco-friendly

(Company agreed to make recommended marketing changes)

Sears and Kmart textiles

(Jan./FTC)

Eco-friendly

(Settled)

Macy’s textiles

(Jan./FTC)

Eco-friendly

(Settled)

Max Studio textiles

(Jan./FTC)

Eco-friendly

(Settled)

Amazon textiles

(Jan./FTC)

Eco-friendly, sustainable

(Settled)

Benjamin Moore’s Natura Paint

(Jan./class action)

Emission- and chemical-free

(Settled)


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