Growing awareness of environmental concerns and its impact on products and services is playing an instrumental role in influencing consumer choices and promoting environment consciousness. To promote their products and services, certain entities could be resorting to greenwashing practices. Hence, regulators worldwide are concerned regarding the greenwashing practices. In India, on 20 February 2024, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) issued Draft Guidelines for the Prevention and Regulation of Greenwashing. Based on the representations received from various stakeholders, on 15 October 2024, CCPA issued the Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Greenwashing or Misleading Environmental Claims, 2024 (‘the Guidelines’).
These Guidelines would complement the existing Guidelines for Prevention of Misleading Advertisements and Endorsements for Misleading Advertisements, 2022. The Guidelines seek to promote transparency in the environmental claims made by the entities and incorporate several illustrations and practical examples to ensure compliance with the new requirements introduced.
This issue of First Notes aims to provide an overview of the key aspects discussed in the Guidelines issued by CCPA.
