The federal watchdog that's supposed to crack down on product labels that make false environmental claims has taken almost no enforcement action over the last decade, even as "green" marketing claims have exploded, agency records show.
The FTC's James Kohm acknowledges the agency hasn't aggressively enforced its main environmental guidelines in recent years, in part because of a lack of resources. The agency has, however, cracked down on energy-related claims, such as products that purport to raise a car's gas mileage
Environmental marketing has exploded recently: a survey in the last year by environmental marketer TerraChoice of 12 large U.S. stores found more than 1,700 products that boasted of green credentials. Eco-friendly claims are made by items ranging from liquor to sport-utility vehicles to pesticides.
One-third of consumers rely on labels to decide whether a product is environmentally friendly
clipped from: www.usatoday.com 