Marketing Communication Guidelines – March 2018 Page 116 of 119
Term/Issue
Definition or Guidance
Example: A toy manufacturer places solar panels on the roof of its plant to generate power,
and advertises that its plant is “100% solar-powered.” The manufacturer, however, sells
renewable energy certificates based on the renewable attributes of all the power i
Even if the manufacturer uses the electricity generated by the solar panels, it has, by selling
renewable energy certificates, transferred the right to characterize that electricity as
renewable. The manufacturer's claim is therefore deceptive. It also would be deceptive for
this manufacturer to advertise that it “hosts” a renewable power facility because reasonable
consumers likely interpret this claim to mean that the manufacturer uses renewable energy.
However, it would not be deceptive for the manufacturer to advertise, “We generate
renewable energy but sell all of it to others.”
Renewable
Materials
Similar to the renewable energy guidance, FTC advises that consumers are likely to
interpret renewable materials differently from how marketers may intend.
Accordingly, FTC advises that unless marketers have substantiation for all their express
and reasonably implied claims, they should clearly and prominently qualify renewable
materials claims. For example, marketers can minimize the likelihood of unintended
implied claims—such as recyclable, degradable, and made with recycled content—by
specifying the material used and why the material is renewable. Additionally,
marketers should further qualify these claims for products containing less than 100%
renewable materials, excluding minor, incidental components.
Example: A marketer makes the unqualified claim that its flooring is “made with
renewable materials.” Reasonable consumers likely interpret this claim to mean that the
flooring also is made with recycled content, recyclable, and biodegradable. Unless the
marketer has substantiation for these implied claims, the unqualified “made with renewable
materials” claim is deceptive. The marketer could qualify the claim by stating, clearly and
prominently, “Our flooring is made from 100 percent bamboo, which grows at the same
rate, or faster, than we use it.” The marketer still is responsible for substantiating all
remaining express and reasonably implied claims.
Example: A marketer's packaging states, “Our packaging is made from 50% plant-based
renewable materials. Because we turn fast-growing plants into bio-plastics, only half of our
product is made from petroleum-based materials.” By identifying the material used and
explaining why the material is renewable, the marketer has minimized the risk of
unintended claims that the product is made with recycled content, recyclable, and
biodegradable and has adequately qualified the amount of renewable materials in the
Source
Reduction
It is deceptive to misrepresent, directly or by implication, that a product or package has
been reduced or is lower in weight, volume, or toxicity. Marketers should clearly and
prominently qualify source reduction claims to the extent necessary to avoid deception
about the amount of the source reduction and the basis for any comparison.
Example: An advertiser claims that disposal of its product generates “10% less waste.”
The marketer does not accompany this claim with a general environmental benefit claim.
Because this claim could be a comparison to the advertiser's immediately preceding product
or to its competitors' products, the advertiser should have substantiation for both
interpretations. Otherwise, the advertiser should clarify which comparison it intends and
have substantiation for that comparison. A claim of “10% less waste than our previous