Scot Case testifies to Energy and Commerce Panel
Our very own Scot Case, Executive Director of the EcoLogo Program, was invited to testify today before the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection for the hearing “It’s Too Easy Being Green: Defining Fair Green Marketing Practices“.
What an amazing opportunity!
This landmark hearing examined “green” marketing claims, their interpretation by consumers, and the role of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in establishing guidelines for fair and effective green marketing practices.
Scot has spent the better part of 16 years working in various capacities to make buying environmentally preferable or “green” products easier for consumers, retailers and government purchasing professionals.
During the hearing, Scot shared his personal opinion about how he believes greenwashing is eroding consumer trust. Referencing the Seven Sins of Greenwashing study, Scot drew attention to the 22 per cent of products studied that were making environmental claims along with a certification-like label that has no apparent meaning.
He also described how the Federal Trade Commission alone is not equipped to define “green” and he stressed the importance of having a single, unifying environmental leadership label for U.S. consumers to easily identify environmentally preferable goods and services.
Other invited witnesses include:
• James Kohm, Director, Enforcement Division, Federal Trade Commission
• Urvashi Rangan, Ph.D., Director, Technical Policy, Consumers Union
• Dara O’Rourke, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of California Berkeley, Co-Founder, GoodGuide
• Scott P. Cooper, Vice President, Government Relations, American National Standards Institute
To read the press release, click here.