By Lewis Jackson
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australia’s competitors watchdog will contemplate a greenwashing criticism made in opposition to Etihad by a neighborhood environmental group that accused the airline on Wednesday of deceptive customers about its environmental credentials and internet zero ambitions.
A number of Etihad commercials concerning the environmental affect of flying and the airline’s internet zero emissions pledge had been false and deceptive “greenwashing”, in line with a criticism filed with the Australian Competitors and Shopper Fee (ACCC) by the Environmental Defenders Workplace (EDO).
“We’ve pored over Etihad’s public paperwork and located inadequate proof that it intends, or moderately expects, to achieve internet zero by 2050,” mentioned EDO Senior Solicitor Zoe Bush in an announcement.
The ACCC advised Reuters it will contemplate the criticism however not remark additional on a possible investigation. A spokesperson added the regulator was analyzing “plenty of issues about greenwashing” in a variety of industries.
Etihad mentioned in an announcement it was dedicated to internet zero emissions by 2050. A sustainability report for 2022 will quickly be launched, a spokesperson added.
Environmental teams and regulators are stepping up motion over deceptive local weather pledges in Australia and elsewhere. Australia’s company regulator final month sued native pension fund Mercer Superannuation for exaggerated claims about environment-friendly investments.
The Australian Securities and Investments Fee, which introduced the case in opposition to Mercer, is “actively monitoring” for greenwashing, Commissioner Danielle Press mentioned in a speech on Wednesday.
Etihad commercials throughout a soccer recreation in Melbourne final month bearing the messages “Flying should not price the earth” and “Internet zero emissions by 2050” misled and deceived as a result of the airline had no credible path to internet zero emissions, in line with Flight Free Australia, which EDO represents within the criticism.
The airline’s emissions discount plans had not been modeled and relied on offsets and speculative expertise, the group added.
Dutch campaigners equally sued a neighborhood subsidiary of Air France KLM for greenwashing final July.
(Reporting by Lewis Jackson; Enhancing by Mark Potter)
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