The effect of the FTC environmental guidelines on the marketing of vinyl products

Abstract

AbstractIn July 1992, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued its long awaited guidelines on the use of environmental marketing claims. These guidelines do not carry the force of law, but they may result in law enforcement action if such claims are found to constitute deceptive advertising. The paper examines the effect the FTC guidelines will have on the marketing of vinyl products. It briefly describes the general principles that apply to all environmental marketing claims and then discusses the eight specific claim types covered by the FTC document: general environmental benefits, degradability, compostability, recyclability, recycled content, source reduction, refillability, and ozone friendliness.