Authorities in the European Union have begun taking action against 20 airlines for engaging in deceptive “greenwashing” techniques.
The European Commission and national consumer protection agencies said in a statement on Tuesday that they had collaborated with watchdogs from Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, and Spain to identify the airlines that had made inaccurate or deceptive claims about the environmental advantages of their businesses.
Greenwashing is the term used to describe assertions made to mislead the public about the environmental friendliness of a product, program, or organization.
The airlines’ names will remain under wraps until the investigation’s preliminary phase is over, according to the authorities.
The statement put forth was that airlines should clarify the degree to which statements regarding the potential for climate projects or the use of sustainable fuels to mitigate CO2 emissions during a trip may be supported by reliable scientific data.
The corporations were also invited by the group to align their activities with EU consumer law within a 30-day timeframe.
EU Commissioner for Values and Transparency Vera Jourova stated, “If we want responsible consumers, we need to provide them accurate information.” She went on to say that customers “deserve accurate and scientific answers, not vague or false claims.”
A Dutch court declared late last month that KLM Royal Dutch Airlines had deceived consumers with an ad campaign meant to enhance the airline’s environmental reputation.
The ruling, which was made in the midst of heightened regulatory scrutiny of corporate environmental claims, was supposed to set a standard for what airlines might publicly state about their attempts to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
