Submission to Senate Inquiry on Greenwashing

The food industry has a significant impact on the environment. The recent investigation into greenwashing undertaken by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission found the food and beverage sector to be amongst those with the highest prevalence of “concerning environmental claims”.

The George Institute’s research shows that environmental claims are commonly applied to foods and drinks, including alcohol products, and that diverse claims are made, increasing the likelihood of confusing consumers. Concerningly, we have also found that the presence of such claims does not necessarily signal more environmentally friendly products. This suggests that while industry considers such claims to provide some value in promoting products and influencing purchases, they can make it difficult for consumers to identify sustainable options and make informed decisions.

In a context where greenwashing is rife and tangible industry action on sustainability is not assured, consumers need an objective, evidence-based tool to cut through the marketing spin. Our key recommendation is the adoption of an objective, clear and accessible front-of-pack and online sustainability label, based on robust data and applied to all foods and beverages, to empower consumers to see through greenwashing and make informed, sustainable choices. The ecoSwitch application developed by The George Institute demonstrates the potential of this information in the context of food and beverages, and could be readily adopted by the Australian Government.