September 21, 2008

An Australian consumer watchdog has warned automakers and other atmosphere polluters to stop falsely presenting themselves as environmental angels.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chief Graeme Samuel said he would make sure the law caught up with companies "that give an overall impression that their product is environmentally friendly when it isn't".

He named-'n-shamed US-based General Motors for claiming its Saab cars sold in Australia were environmentally friendly. "Every Saab is green," the advertising ran, "with carbon emissions neutral across the entire Saab range."

Samuel said planting 17 seedlings for each car sold wouldn't get anywhere near offsetting the carbon dioxide emissions over the life of the vehicle. He also took to task V8 Supercars Australia for claiming that planting seedlings would negate the greenhouse gases from its car races.

Samuel said. "It's not until the trees are fully grown that they can maximise carbon absorption."

Kate Norris, of consumer lobby group Choice, welcomed the ACCC action: "A growing number of consumers want to buy greener and need of accurate, relevant information about the environmental performance of products." – Sapa-DPA