Fur Council will have some 'splaining to do...

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It's working!!!! I called and complained a couple of weeks ago about "green" fur and explained about the poison in the water, the associated leukemia and lung cancer increases around it, and the fact that tanned hide is no longer biodegradable, which pretty much exposes everything they are claiming as lies. They wrote AND emailed me saying they "couldn't look into it at this time". Well, now they are looking into EVERY business claiming "green". This couldn't be a bigger blow to them. WHOO HOOOOOOO! ------------ --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- http://www.theglobe andmail.com/ servlet/story/ LAC.20080311. RGREEN11/ TPStory/? query=competitio n+bureau ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETING: SELLING A SMALLER FOOTPRINT New scrutiny for green claims CARLY WEEKS Richard Blackwell March 11, 2008 The Competition Bureau is preparing to launch a crackdown on companies that make false or misleading environmental claims about their products, a bold move that is part of the agency's new mission to build a higher consumer protection profile. The bureau, along with the Canadian Standards Association, is about to publish industry guidelines that will create

national definitions for such terms as recyclable and require any green claims to be backed by readily available data, according to a draft document that has been distributed to industry members for comment. The move comes just months after the Competition Bureau stunned many in the industry by forcing popular yoga retailer Lululemon Athletica Inc. to remove "unsubstantiated" claims about the health benefits from seaweed from the labels of a clothing line. It also comes as the bureau is seeking to recover from an embarrassing court ruling over its conduct. The bureau is facing a third-party review triggered by an Federal Court judge rebuke of its actions during an investigation of Labatt Brewing Co. Ltd.'s takeover of Lakeport Brewing Income Fund. Print Edition - Section Front The bureau has become increasingly concerned in the past six months with the number of companies making claims about the environmental benefits of their products, bureau spokeswoman Pamela Wong said yesterday. The bureau has also been receiving complaints from consumers on the issue, Ms. Wong said. Since its ruling against Lululemon, "we have been seeing more usage in the industry of these kinds of eco-friendly environmental

claims," Ms. Wong said. The new guidance on environmental claims is the bureau's "first step" to improving accuracy of product claims as an increasing number of companies seek to capitalize on the booming market for green products, she said. The controversy over environmental claims has been coming to a boil in Canada recently as consumers grow increasingly frustrated with potentially false or misleading labels. In response to consumer complaints, Advertising Standards Canada last week published guidelines that warn companies their environmentally friendly claims must be backed up by science. "[Consumers] really do want to know how they can make purchasing decisions [so] they can buy products that are

environmentally friendly," said Janet Feasby, vice-president of standards with the association. Although there are rules in place to prevent false or misleading advertising, the problem with environmental claims is that there are different definitions and standards that can be used to make a product seem eco-friendly. While Canadians are buying more eco-friendly products, "the value of environmental claims rests on the assurance that the information provided is credible, objective, easily identifiable and understood," the draft document said. Procter & Gamble Co., the world's leading supplier of packaged consumer goods, said the new guidelines should eliminate the number of companies seeking to

profit off an unsubstantiated green label. But the rules will only work if properly enforced, said Lee Bansil, the company's external relations director in Canada. "This is going to backfire for everyone if the consumer perceives she's being misled," he said. Procter & Gamble employs a team of scientists to determine what type of claims can be made, Mr. Bansil said. Although the issue of environmental claims has become a new priority for the Competition Bureau, it will only ramp up enforcement efforts if consumers complain about misleading claims, Ms. Wong said. The market for green products has exploded in

recent years as consumers have become increasingly concerned about the environment. But environmental groups have called for government intervention. The guidelines will bring much needed clarity to an unregulated area where companies can make misleading claims, said Lise Beutel, consultant and client service manager at Terra Choice Environmental Marketing. "I certainly think regulation would help as a means of stewarding those who are making green claims," she said. Under the new guidelines, companies won't be allowed to make vague or non-specific claims about their products. They'll also be restricted from calling a product as "free" of a particular chemical or compound if that substance was never

used in the first place. For instance, some companies advertise household cleaners as "non-toxic" or "chemical-free" - claims that are extremely vague and inaccurate, considering most consumer products contain some type of chemical. Many cleaners and detergents also claim to be made without chlorofluorocarbons , commonly referred to as CFCs. But that claim is largely irrelevant, because CFCs have been phased out of use in Canada in recent decades. Companies whose paper products are labelled as "made from recyclable materials" have also come under fire for failing to explain how much of the product comes from recycled goods. Some members of the industry say the bureau is waging an unnecessary battle

that could create even more confusion among business. In its submission to the Competition Bureau, the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors said the industry already follows clearly established guidelines and that non-specific, general claims "do not mislead the consumer." There is no shortage of businesses and groups that flaunt their Earth-friendly credentials, Richard Blackwell writes Green fur Last fall, the Fur Council of Canada raised eyebrows when it started a marketing campaign touting fur as "the ultimate eco-clothing. " Fur is renewable, reusable,

recyclable and biodegradable, the council suggested. Fur doesn't pollute as much as textile production, it claimed, and is never made in a Third World sweatshop. What's more, trapping supports native culture. Green nukes French nuclear giant Areva announced last month that it "achieved carbon neutrality" in 2007. Areva, which wants to build some reactors in Canada, said it released less than one million tonnes of CO{-2} last year, far less than most industrial groups. And it made up for it by buying carbon credits on the market. No mention of the amount of spent nuclear fuel that has to be stored for centuries.

Green car dealers Two Ontario car dealers - one in London and one in Windsor - said last fall that they have teamed up with Toronto carbon offset marketer Cleanairpass to let their customers drive off the lot guilt-free. The dealers said they would provide offsets for each client who buys a new or used car to cover carbon emissions for the first year, or 20,000 kilometres of travel. Hit the gas, let's go. Green hockey The National Hockey League Players' Association has launched a "carbon neutral challenge," which includes cutting waste and energy

use at NHLPA's offices, and encouraging players to "green" their daily activities. Are the players cutting their flying or driving to get to games? Nope. But they're buying offsets! Green CDs Name Your Tune, a Toronto company that makes personalized CDs for kids, has adopted a number of admirable environmental practices, such as packaging its products in sustainable paper rather than plastic cases, and using recyclable shipping envelopes. Like many companies, however, it is buying some of its environmentally friendly status through carbon offset purchases. Green flying Air travel is clearly one of the worst offenders when it comes to generating greenhouse gases, but both WestJet Airlines Ltd. and Air Canada have links with carbon-offset sellers allowing customers to buy away their guilt. Air Canada is teamed with Toronto's Zerofootprint while WestJet has an alliance with Offsetters.ca of Vancouver. How about staying home instead? http://www.cbc. ca/consumer/ story/2008/ 03/11/green- guidelines. html http://pets.Fortheanimals7/join