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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)

Danish Crown Pork

(March 2024/international)

Climate-controlled

(Court ruled the phrase was misleading)

Glad Recycling Bags

(March 2024/class action)

Recyclable and appropriate for recycling

(Pending)

Amyris Clean Beauty

(March 2024/NAD)

Ethically and sustainably sourced

(Company agreed to make recommended marketing changes)

JBS USA Food Company

(Feb. 2024/state)

Net zero emissions by 2040

(Pending)

Domino’s Pizza Boxes

(Feb. 2024/ad alert)

Recyclable

(TINA.org notified the company of its findings that pizza boxes aren’t typically getting recycled in reality)

BMW Electric Vehicles

(Feb. 2024/ASA)

Zero emissions cars

(UK regulator instructed company to remove ad)

Oreo Cookies, Clif Bars, Toblerone, and Other Mondelez Products

(Jan. 2024/class action)

Sustainable

(Pending)

2023

Product/Company

(Date/Source)

Environmental Claim(s) at Issue

(Outcome)

Austria Airlines

(2023/international regulator)

Sustainable Aviation Fuel and CO2 Neutral

(Company told to post a corrective statement on its website and social media channels)

Glad Recycling Bags

(Dec./class action)

Appropriate for recycling

(Pending)

Unilever

(Dec./international regulator)

Environmentally friendly

(Pending)

Etihad Airways

(Dec./ASA)

Environmental advocacy

(Company told to not make misleading and unsubstantiated claims regarding the environmental impact of flying with the airline)

Deutsche Lufthansa AG

(Dec./ASA)

Fly more sustainably

(Company told to not make misleading and unsubstantiated claims regarding the environmental impact of flying with the airline)

Air France

(Dec./ASA)

Committed to protecting the environment and to allowing consumers to travel sustainably

(Company told to not make misleading and unsubstantiated claims regarding the environmental impact of flying with the airline)

CleanChoice Energy

(Nov./classs action)

Clean, pollution-free, and from renewable sources

(Pending)

Up & Up Sport Sunscreen Spray

(Nov./class action)

Reef friendly

(Pending)

Made In Cookware (MIC) Non-Stick Cookware

(Nov./class action)

Non-toxic and PFOA-free

(Pending)

United Airlines

(Nov./class-action)

Sustainable fuel, 100% green and carbon neutral by 2050

(Pending)

PepsiCo and Frito-Lay

(Nov./state)

Circular economy for plastic resins and plastic waste reduction plan

(Pending)

H&M

(Nov./class action)

Made with recycled and/or organic materials

(Pending)

Royal Dutch Airlines

(Nov./class action)

Sustainable fuel and carbon offsets

(Pending)

equate sunscreens

(Nov./class action)

Reef Friendly

(Pending)

The Period Co.

(Nov./class-action)

Waste-free, non-toxic, sustainable, “kind to the … Planet”

(Pending)

Renpure hair care products

(Oct./class action)

Plant-based

(Pending)

KLM

(Sept./international)

Sustainable and carbon offsets

(Court ruled the airline’s ads were misleading and illegal)

Colgate and Tom’s of Maine

(Sept./TINA.org complaint to FTC, CT/CA regulators)

Recyclable

(TINA.org found toothpaste tubes deceptively marketed as “recyclable” despite not being recycled in reality)

Exxon, Shell, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, BP, American Petroleum

(Sept./state)

Green, clean, environmentally friendly, contribute to finding climate change solutions

(Pending)

Lumen securities

(Sept./class action)

Benefit the environment

(Pending)

Knix

(Sept./class action)

Free of PFAS

(Settled)

Colgate and Tom’s of Maine

(Aug./class action)

Recyclable

(Pending)

The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

(Aug./class action)

Sustainable and earth friendly

(Pending)

Slashop

(Aug./class action)

Eco-friendly

(Pending)

Target

(Aug./class action)

Clean

(Pending)

Verizon securities

(Aug./class action)

Committed to protecting the environment

(Pending)

Hefty and Great Value Recycling Bags

(July/class action)

Appropriate for recycling

(Settled)

AT&T securities

(July/class action)

Committed to protecting the environment

(Pending)

Etsy

(July/class action)

Carbon offsets

(Dismissed)

17 European Airlines

(June/international)

Sustainable, green, carbon offsets, and Sustainable Aviation Fuels

(Pending)

HexClad Cookware

(June/class action)

Non-toxic

(Pending)

Berkshire EcoSoft Blanket

(June/class action)

Environmentally friendly

(Pending)

Delta Air Lines

(May/class action)

Carbon neutral

(Pending)

Nike’s Sustainability Collection

(May/class action)

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

(Pending)

Etihad Airways

(April/ASA)

Sustainable aviation

(Company told to not exaggerate environmental impact of flying)

Arm & Hammer Clean Burst laundry detergent

(April/class action)

Environmentally friendly

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Kohl’s textiles

(April/class action)

Environmentally friendly

(Voluntarily dismissed )

Walmart textiles

(March/class-action)

Environmentally friendly

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Lomi countertop composter

(March/ad alert)

Compostable

(TINA.org notified the company of its findings)

Gain Aroma Boost laundry detergent

(March/class action)

Environmentally friendly

(Pending)

Weiman cleaning products

(March/NAD)

Non-toxic, eco-friendly

(Company agreed to discontinue challenged claims)

Mrs. Paul’s and Van De Kamp’s seafood

(March/class action)

Sustainable

(Pending)

Bumble Bee seafood

(March/class action)

Sustainable

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Great Value and Sam’s Choice seafood

(March/class action)

Sustainable

(Pending)

Toyota vehicles

(March/international environmental group)

Committed to clean cars

(Pending)

Lufthansa airline

(March/ASA)

Protecting the future of the world

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

o.b. Organic tampons

(Feb./class action)

Chemical-free

(Dismissed)

Glad Recycling Bags

(Feb./class action)

Appropriate for recycling

(Pending)

Mercer investments

(Feb./international regulator)

Sustainable

(Pending)

One Health Certification Foundation

(Feb./NAD)

Minimizes the impact of animal production on the environment

(Company appealed recommended advertising changes)

Tampax Pure Cotton tampons

(Feb./class action)

Chemical-free

(Pending)

JBS USA Food Company

(Feb./NAD)

Net zero emissions

(Company appealed recommended advertising changes)

WaterWipes baby and adult care wipes

(Feb./class action)

Biodegradable

(Settled and voluntarily dismissed)

Bellabu Bear

(Jan./class action)

Environmentally friendly

(Voluntarily dismissed)

Dyper diapers

(Jan./NAD)

Biodegradable

(Company agreed to make recommended advertising changes)

BioSteel sports drink

(Jan./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

(Dismissed)

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

(Dismissed)

Aldi tuna

(Aug./class action)

Dolphin safe

(Settled and voluntarily dismissed)

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)

Walgreens Reusable Plastic Grocery Bags

(April/class action)

Recyclable

(Pending)

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

(Stayed)

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

(Dismissed)

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

(Dismissed)

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)

Sunoco, Aloha Petroleum, Exxon Mobil, Shell, Chevron, BP, and others

(2020/state)

Failure to warn of dangers of using fossil fuel

(Pending)

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

(Voluntarily dismissed)

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

(Voluntarily dismissed)

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

(Settled)

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)

General Motors

(2017/class action)

Low emissions

(Pending)

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

(Dismissed)

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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