Greenwashing / Regulation & Reporting
Learning Zone Resources -
A Tool Kit for Sustainable Marketers
Completed our 100 Points Challenge yet? These resources support you with your Sustainable Marketer Manifesto commitments. Aim to reach the minimum 100 points of knowledge to achieve your Sustainable Marketer Certification. We recognise it’s self-certification, and it’s down to you to do the learning - but that’s where it starts… with education and growing your own awareness. Keep checking back in - as we add resources weekly
The Green Claims Code - 10pts
More people than ever are concerned about the environmental impact of the products and services that they buy. We know businesses want to be honest with their customers about their green credentials, but it may not always be clear how to do this. The Green Claims code, regulation from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). View here.
Green Claims Developments Global Drive: Developments in the UK, US and EU - 5 pts
Useful summary of recent developments and greenwashing regimes across UK, US and EU.
Sustainable Reporting - Unravelling the GRI standards with Simon Pitsillides 5 pts
Whilst more organisations are starting to drive a more sustainable agenda - reporting on the impact and outcomes of those initiatives has never been more important. Consumers, employees and investors are calling for more transparency and visibility. In this podcast we discuss reporting frameworks, CSR, ESG, GRI and how organisations are working together to create a single reporting standard. No easy task considering the breadth of organisations, sectors and issues. Simon shares his experience, expertise, real world challenges and advice as to how organisations navigate this thorny path. Listen here
‘Navigating Greenwashing and Green Claims - 4-Part Mini Series’, Part 3 - Katie-Scarlett Wetherall, Lawyer, ClientEarth 5 pts
We continue on our navigating green claims and greenwashing mini-series speaking with Katie Wetherall, a lawyer at ClientEarth about the brilliant work they do and taking a deep dive into the world of plastics, packaging and recycling.
It’s no secret that marketing tactics in this area are long overdue a review. Clever marketing can mislead consumers with what are essentially false sustainability claims - particularly, when one takes into account the bigger picture and lifecycle of the product they appear on.
What you need to know in 2025 - 5pts
Solid overview of regulations, what’s happening and where you need to be up to date, complete with a ‘Do and Don’t’ list to keep you on the right track.
ASA Codes and Rulings - 5pts
Stay up to date with the latest greenwashing rulings. This is a great way to increase your understanding of what constitutes greenwashing and, see the detail and reasons behind the claims on an on-going basis. View here.
EU Green Deal - Proposal for a Directive on Green Claims
5 pts
With a proposed new law on green claims, the EU is taking action to address greenwashing, and protect consumers and the environment.
Ensuring that environmental labels and claims are credible and trustworthy will allow consumers to make better informed purchasing decisions. It will also boost the competitiveness of businesses who are striving to increase the environmental sustainability of their products and activities.
As regulations and guidelines in and around sustainability continue to evolve, tighten up and support a better future around managing both what we do AND say, we spoke to Laura Brett whose remit is to lead the US system of advertising self-regulation looking at advertising claims to make sure what is being said is the truth, (like the Advertising Standards Agency – ASA, in the UK).
Cecilia returns as we kick off this ‘4 part mini-series on greenwashing and navigating green claims.
Since the publication of the Green Claims Code in 2021 significant progress has been made however, challenges remain. Cecilia tells us that since we last spoke, the CMA has taken action against misleading claims in sectors like fashion and fast-moving consumer goods prompting businesses to reassess their environmental messaging.
Navigating Greenwashing and Green Claims - 4-Part Mini Series’, Part 4 - Adrian Ma, Founder, Fanclub PR 5 pts
It’s the final episode of our four part mini-series on navigating green claims and greenwashing and we speak to Adrian Ma, founder of Fanclub PR, about the role of agencies in green claims and the rise of purpose-led marketing. Adrian shares his insights from working with impact-driven brands such as Who Gives a Crap, Music Magpie, SMOL and many more, and dives into the challenges agencies face in balancing creativity with compliance.
Reporting regulations for the EU 2025- 5pts
A great article which has taken the most critical ESG and non-financial reporting regulations in the EU and distilled them down. You might want to bookmark this…
In the second of our greenwashing mini-series we chat to Guy Parker, Chief Executive of the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), about green claims and the role of responsible advertising in sustainability.
We discuss the line between greenwashing (exaggerated or false claims) and greenhushing (staying silent due to fear of backlash), and how Marketers can absolutely tread the middle ground between the two.
ClientEarth - Greenwashing Hub 5pts
Explore cases, find out more about greenwashing and get updates.
Complementary Use and Linkage of the GRI Standards and B Lab’s B Impact Assessment
5 pts
With an increase in the number of companies using both GRI Standards and B Lab’s B Impact Assessment, (listed in resources above) and the importance of harmonised efforts to report and manage organisational impacts, this document provides an overview of how the two can be used to complement one another. It also clarifies their similarities, differences, and overlaps.
There’s a useful spreadsheet - providing a comprehensive assessment and starting point for organisations. Read more
Can Marketing Save the Planet Podcast with Cecilia Parker-Aranha, CMA - 5pts
In this episode, we dive deeper into the Green Claims Code - speaking with Cecelia Parker Aranha, Director of Consumer Protection at the CMA (Competitions and Markets Authority).
The Green Claims Code came into force in the UK in January 2022, so still pretty fertile territory. Cecilia shares why the Green Claims code came about; what it sets out to do and importantly, what brands and organisations need to consider to ensure they comply. Listen here.
What is CSRD? - Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
5 pts
The EU is bringing sustainability reporting in line with financial reporting, with the introduction of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD). The new framework will be rolled out in a phased approach from 2024. It will require companies to report on how sustainability issues, such as climate change, impact their business and how their operations in turn affect people and planet – a unique principle called ‘double materiality’.
More here. And useful YT video explainer here.
GRI Standards - What are they - and how you can use them
5 pts
The GRI Standards help organisations’ understand their outward impacts: on the economy, environment, and society. This increases accountability and enhances transparency on their contribution to sustainable development.
Explore more . Also see ‘what’s changed’ for 2023 here.