Companies remove misleading ‘go green’ anti-print claims

Two Sides, the global initiative to promote the sustainability of print and paper, reports a 61% success rate in removing misleading environmental claims made by some of the world’s biggest corporations as they seek to replace paper-based communications with lower cost electronic alternatives.

Two Sides research into more than 600 of the world’s leading corporations, including banks, utilities, telecoms and insurance giants, has shown that a total of 460 of those companies have been using misleading and unsubstantiated environmental statements, despite specific advertising legislation to protect consumers in many countries. To date, 278 of those companies have removed such statements as a result of ongoing engagement by Two Sides. “We’re really pleased that Two Sides is having such a significant effect on some of the world’s largest and most influential organisations. But there is no room for complacency, and there is still a great deal of work to do with the remaining companies that continue to mislead their customers”, says Martyn Eustace, Chairman of Two Sides UK. Jonathan Tame, country manager, Two Sides UK, said: “We have an active campaign to research and remove greenwash in the UK, with a very encouraging response. 83% of all companies we have engaged have agreed to remove misleading messages, and in many cases, we have helped organisations amend their marketing communication guidelines.”