Environmental Marketing Claims and the Law: Navigating a Rapidly Shifting Landscape
As consumer and regulatory scrutiny over environmental marketing claims intensifies, it is crucial for advertisers and influencers to stay ahead of the evolving legal landscape. This program will explore recent legal and policy developments and provide practical guidance on how companies can promote their sustainability initiatives while mitigating legal risks. Recently, there has been a flurry of activity from regulators, plaintiffs’ attorneys, and industry groups weighing in on “green” marketing issues. The Federal Trade Commission is in the midst of reviewing its Green Guides, with potential revisions on the horizon regarding recycling claims, carbon neutral representations, and the substantiation required for broad environmental benefit statements. State regulators have brought high-profile greenwashing lawsuits against major corporations. And self-regulatory bodies around the world have issued new principles aimed at environmental claims. Consumer class action litigation over environmental marketing has surged as well, targeting not only explicit environmental claims, but also corporate sustainability initiatives. This program will provide an overview of the key regulatory, litigation, and self-regulatory developments shaping the boundaries of permissible green marketing. As companies face escalating pressure to publicize their environmental commitments, attendance is a must for any marketing, sustainability, or legal professional navigating this high-stakes and rapidly evolving area.