Federal Trade Commission Protecting America's Consumers

The Federal Trade Commission is reviewing its Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims, also known as the Green Guides. The Guides help marketers avoid making unfair or deceptive environmental claims.

The FTC reviews all of its rules and guides periodically to determine whether to retain, modify, or rescind them.

• Press Release (November 26, 2007)
• Federal Register Notice [PDF]
• Comments filed (Note: this comment period is closed, but see below for any that may be open)

Workshops

The FTC is holding a series of workshops on various green marketing topics:

Green Building & Textiles (July 15, 2008)

• Press Release (June 3, 2008)
• Federal Register Notice [PDF]
• Comments Filed in Response
• More...

Green Packaging Claims (April 30, 2008)

• Press Release (February 25, 2008)
• Federal Register Notice [PDF]
• Comments Filed in Response
• More...

Carbon Offsets and Renewable Energy Certificates (January 8, 2008)

• Press Release (November 26, 2008)
• Federal Register Notice [PDF]
• Comments Filed in Response
• More...

Consumer Education & Business Guidance

• Complying with the Environmental Marketing Guides [PDF]
  Information about complying with the FTC's Green Guides. The Green Guides indicate how the FTC will apply Section 5 of the FTC Act, which prohibits unfair or deceptive acts or practices, to environmental marketing claims.
• Sorting Out 'Green' Advertising Claims [PDF]
  The FTC, in cooperation with the EPA, has developed guidelines for advertisers to ensure that their environmental marketing claims don't mislead consumers. Contains six tips to help you sort through environmental claims.
• Advertising Retail Electricity and Natural Gas [PDF]
  Advises utilities suppliers how to make truthful marketing claims.