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Green
Project

Green Project is a pioneering self-regulatory initiative on the Polish market launched to promote ethical communication and advertising in terms of environmental responsibility and sustainable development. As a result, it also prevents greenwashing.

Together with our members and organizations supporting our activities we are building solid foundations for self-regulation in the area of declarations for “eco” products and services. Our initiative is in line with the European Commission’s activities. In addition, as part of the Green Project, we carry out promotional and educational activities focused on topics related to responsibility and protection of our planet. In 2021, we have been working to introduce an annex to the Code of Ethics in Advertising dedicated to ethical advertising and communication in this respect.

What is GREENWASHING?

Greenwashing is marketing communication of a company or advertising communication of a brand based on false or misleading declarations regarding the compliance of the company’s activities, products or their elements with the principles of environmental protection.

Almost 50% of the declarations using the term “eco” turn out to be false and dishonest from the point of view of European Union law. In almost 40% of the cases, companies have used vague, unspecified terms associated with the word “eco” (data from a survey conducted by the European Commission in 2020).

Why is it a good idea to join the
GREEN PROJECT?

  • You participate in a pioneering self-regulation project in the field of ecology on the Polish market.
  • You become a part of a large cross-industry project.
  • You create self-regulation that can prevent the introduction of hard regulation.
  • If you meet the Green Project requirements, you can build your brand and company image as an environmentally responsible business.

How to recognize GREENWASHING messages?

  • They do not provide evidence or they provide it in a way that is not supported by available sources. They do not provide certificates issued by acclaimed institutions.
  • They communicate in an imprecise manner. They use taglines and statements that the consumer may perceive as emotional or even irrational (e.g. “chemical-free product”, “100% natural”).
  • They use jargon and unscientific terminology.
  • They use terms that are incomprehensible to consumers, terms specially created for the purposes of a given communication.
  • They cite non-existent certificates or certificates created for a particular brand.
  • They use labels, stamps, seals or colours that falsely suggest the green aspect of a product, brand or a company.
  • They manipulate the data. They present data that are not relevant to the consumer or applicable regulations.
  • They lie; they provide false information, including unlawfully used markings and certificates, and provide untrue data on the recycled content or product recyclability.
  • They are based on the so-called lesser of two evils principle. They emphasize that a given product or brand stands out in a positive way from a given category, which, however, is actually harmful to the environment as a whole.
  • They imply that a given product or brand complies with the principles of environmental protection, but they present only a part of its cycle and fail to take into account the entire environmental impact resulting from the process of production, use and waste disposal.

CURRENT PROVISIONS OF THE CODE OF ETHICS IN ADVERTISING DEVOTED TO ECOLOGICAL ADVERTISING

Article 33

Advertisements cannot undermine public trust in correctly performed activities undertaken within the framework of natural environment protection.

Article 34

Advertisements cannot exploit the lack of knowledge of their recipients in the area of natural environment protection.

Article 35

Advertisements cannot contain a message which might mislead the consumers as to environmental protection, including but not limited to through misleading information on characteristics of products or on activities undertaken by the advertiser for environmental protection. Advertisements of entrepreneurs related to specific products or actions cannot without justified grounds extend the advertising effect in the area of natural environment protection to the whole business of the advertiser.

Article 36

An environmental claim must relate to the characteristics of the advertised product and must refer to such characteristics of such product that exist throughout the product life or periodically, but in the latter case the advertisement must inform the recipient thereof.

Article 37

Advertisements containing general phrases such as “environmentally friendly” or “ecologically safe” cannot be misleading. The information indicating the precise effect of the product in this area must be available at the point of sale, enclosed to the product or shall be presented to the beneficiary in a publicly accessible way.

Article 38

1. When advertisements refer to the reduction the quantity (number) of components or elements having an environmental impact, such information cannot be misleading. The information indicating the precise positive effect of the product in this area must be true and available at the point of sale or enclosed to the product and shall be presented to the beneficiary.
2. Advertising claims cannot refer to the absence of components, features or impacts that are not applicable to the given product category.
3. An advertising claim of “…free”, or of the same effect, should only be made when the level of the specified substance does not exceed that of an acknowledged trace contaminant or background level.
4. Environmental signs or symbols should only be used when the source of origin (granting or appointing) these signs or symbols is clearly indicated in advertisement, and there is no confusion over their meaning. Such signs and symbols should not falsely suggest that their presence is related to a decision of a government administration authority, local government authority, or other institutions the activity of which is connected with natural environment protection.

Article 39

Environmental claims referring to waste handling are acceptable provided that the recommended method of separation, collection, processing or disposal is available for a significant part of the beneficiaries. Otherwise, the extent and method of obtaining access to the above-described methods should be indicated.

If you see an advertisement that violates these provisions
and misleads consumers, please react!
Lodge a complaint! You have influence on advertising.

LODGE A COMPLAINT

RECOMMENDATIONS

Mikołaj Janicki, CEO Pro Duet BBF sp. z o.o.

Our intention is to become a conscious communication bridge between the world of marketing and ecology. By providing our positive input, using our resources, we can exert a huge, positive influence on changing things for the better.
WIt’s worth having your own voice. Exercising influence on yourself and those around you. Awareness of environmental changes made by men and the destructive impact of these changes on our planet is obvious for any conscious person. We may worry, deceive ourselves and get frustrated thinking about the world we will leave for our children. We may also ignore it or lie to ourselves that it’s not true, that it’s not me or others… or drown in eco-depression thinking it’s too late or that we don’t have the driving force to do anything anyway. I do know I want to have an impact, at least try to change things for the better…. I am frustrated by lack of action, complaining or denying our own influence. I am not “the mighty of this world”, yet I do know that my contribution counts, for the world, for me. Being in the world of communication, marketing and advertising and claiming to have no power is hypocrisy. We have competences used to create convictions, influence decisions, build awareness, and yet when it comes to such a common, positive and close matter as ecological responsibility we bury our heads in the sand and become helpless? No! We do have influence! I ask you to join our initiative where we, marketers, fight for a clean world. For responsible development. Yes! We can consume without destroying, contributing to prosperity. It is enough to change our attitude, consume responsibly and remember that the money we pay is not everything – there is also the price of consumed water and the carbon footprint of each production process (my personal proposal is to introduce prices in these 3 units – money, water consumption and carbon footprint). It would be easier to understand why 1 kilo of plant protein is better than 1 kilo of beef protein. And if I like meat, I need to pay for it… Examples abound, but that’s not the point here. Our intention is to become a conscious communication bridge between the world of marketing and ecology. By providing our positive input, using our resources, we can exert a huge, positive influence on changing things for the better. It’s within our reach!

Alicja Michałowska, Lawyer, Food Law Centre

We believe that engagement in activities aimed at the welfare of the Earth is the only right direction for organizations to achieve sustainable and ethical growth.
The Food Law Centre is a law firm specializing in food law and related fields. We support companies from the food industry by providing them with comprehensive and effective legal assistance. The scope of our activity includes, among others, drafting legal analyses, conducting administrative proceedings before food control authorities and verification of labelling, presentation and advertising of foodstuffs, taking into account also declarations regarding ecology in its broadest sense. Seeing how much importance consumers place on the environmental aspects of their daily purchasing choices, we believe that commitment to activities aimed at the welfare of our planet, the Earth, is the only right direction to be followed by organizations to achieve sustainable and ethical growth.
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