FTC Goes After Biodegradable Plastic Bag Claims

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is now looking at claims on “oxodegradable” (bags will degrade in the presence of oxygen) claims on plastic bags.  They’ve written letters to 15 marketers asking them to prove the claims.  The problem with degradation in the presence of oxygen is that most bags wind up covered in a landfill where there is not much oxygen (i.e., where anaerobic degradation would have to occur).

Follow the Guides For the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims (the Green Guides) and make sure you can back up your claims with real data.  Feel free to contact the FTC if you think someone is playing fast and loose with environmental marketing claims.
EHS Strategies, Inc. can help make sure your claims are solid.