Swiss Consumer Protection Foundation SKS has filed complaints against Swisscom, Coca-Cola Switzerland and six other Swiss companies which it says are practising illegal greenwashing.
The organisation considers these companies’ advertising claims about climate neutrality misleading and has filed complaints to the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) on grounds that they violate Swiss competition law.
“Consumers are being duped,” said SKS director Sara Stalder in a statement on Friday.
As well as Swisscom and Coca-Cola Switzerland, the complaints also target Zurich Zoo, car rental company Avis, the Elite travel agency, heating oil distributor Kübler Heizöl and Agent Selly, a company selling real estate.
More and more products and services are being advertised with green slogans, says the consumer protection organisation. For example, mobile phone subscriptions are described as “climate neutral” and heating oil as “CO2 neutral”.
“In fact, an analysis by SKS of several examples shows that many advertising claims are exaggerated or even unfounded,” it says. “They are neither explained in more detail nor substantiated.”
According to the Foundation, the companies’ claims are not fully verifiable because the data on CO2 emissions is lacking or incomplete. As for the numerous offsetting projects cited by the targeted companies, SKS says they have virtually no effect on the actual concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere.
When questioned by the Zurich daily Tagesanzeiger, some of the companies involved acknowledged in part that the climate neutrality concept was open to question. Others maintained firmly that they considered themselves to be climate neutral, or even “climate positive”.
SKS is also calling for Switzerland to tighten the law on greenwashing, along the lines of several neighbouring countries. “There is no reason why Swiss consumers should be less well-protected than European consumers against misleading environmental promises,” said Stalder.
Popular Stories
More
Banking & Fintech
UBS releases ‘hundreds’ of staff in fresh wave of job cuts
Should Switzerland take measures to support its struggling industries?
Industrial policies are back in fashion, not only in the United States but also in the EU. Should Switzerland, where various industries are struggling, draw inspiration from such policies?
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
This content was published on
A committee of Switzerland’s House of Representatives has found the people’s initiative to limit fireworks too extreme, but has suggested a counter-proposal.
UN investigators report evidence of crimes in Syria and call for national dialogue
This content was published on
UN investigators in Geneva report ample evidence of crimes in Syria and urge the regime to follow through on its promise of a national dialogue.
Swiss Trade Union warns EU deal could threaten wages
This content was published on
The Swiss Trade Union Federation warns that the new bilateral agreement between Switzerland and the EU could threaten wage protection and public services.
Credit Suisse fines from Mozambique scandal to fund victims’ compensation
This content was published on
The fines imposed on Credit Suisse for the Mozambique scandal will be allocated to a fund for the victims, amounting to $105.5 million.
‘Confederation is a subsidy machine’: Swiss finance minister
This content was published on
The Swiss government is a machine for distributing subsidies to various actors in the country, says finance minister Karin Keller-Sutter.
Lack of funds ends third bid to salvage Säntis ship from Swiss lake
This content was published on
A third attempt to salvage the steamship Säntis, lying at the bottom of Lake Constance in Switzerland since 1933, has failed before it has even begun.
Nestlé Waters on trial in France over illegal waste dumps
This content was published on
Bottled water producer Nestlé Waters to stand trial, accused of illegally dumping waste and maintaining unauthorised dumps.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss multinationals slammed over ‘misleading’ climate claims
This content was published on
Large international companies are accused of making misleading net-zero promises. Swiss ones like Nestlé and Holcim, according to a report.
This content was published on
Recent regulatory moves, including in Switzerland, to clamp down on greenwashing in the financial market could end up doing more harm than good.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.