Mercedes Accused of Greenwashing with ‘Nature or Nothing’ Ads
Automaker’s environmental record speaks for itself.
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 |
| 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 |
| Transitions2Earth utensils
(April/class action) |
Biodegradable |
| CAVA grain and salad bowls
(April/class action) |
Sustainable
(Pending) |
| Burger King Whopper and French fries
(April/class action) |
Sustainable |
| Burt’s Bees cosmetics
(April/class action) |
Safe and responsible sourcing |
| 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 |
| Whole Foods rice
(Jan./class action) |
Sustainable |
| 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 |
| Earth Rated dog poop bags
(Dec./class action) |
Compostable
(Pending) |
| Republic Services Recycling
(Nov./class action) |
Recyclable |
| 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 |
| Quilted Northern
(Sept./NAD) |
Sustainable
(Company agreed to make recommended changes) |
| Banana Boat sunscreens
(Sept./class action) |
Reef friendly |
| 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 |
| Niagara, Kirkland and other bottled water brands
(July/class action) |
Recyclable |
| 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 |
| The Coca-Cola Company
(June/environmental group) |
Sustainable, environmentally friendly
(Dismissed) |
| Hefty “recycling” bags
(May/class action) |
Recyclable |
| 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 |
| Tide purclean laundry detergent
(Jan./class action) |
Plant-based |
2020
| Product/Company
(Date/Source) |
Environmental Claim(s) at Issue
(Outcome) |
|---|---|
| Repellem and Eco-Friendly trash bags
(Dec./class action) |
Biodegradable, eco-friendly |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| Windex Vinegar window cleaner
(May/class action) |
Non-toxic
(Pending) |
| Windex window cleaner
(May/class action) |
Non-toxic |
| 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 |
| Fancy Feast tuna
(May/class action) |
Dolphin safe |
| Chicken of the Sea tuna
(May/class action) |
Dolphin safe |
| Bumble Bee tuna
(May/class action) |
Dolphin safe |
| 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 |
| 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 |
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 |
| 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) |
You Might Be Interested In
Deceptive Marketing 101: Recyclable Claims
How products marketed as ‘recyclable’ end up in landfills.
How Causewashing Deceives Consumers
For decades, brands have been supporting causes — or rather pretending to support causes — to boost sales.