LOADING

Type to search

EU Commission Takes Action Against 20 Airlines for Misleading Greenwashing Practices

EU Commission Takes Action Against 20 Airlines for Misleading Greenwashing Practices

Commission

Following an alert from the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), the European Commission and EU consumer authorities (Network of Consumer Protection Cooperation – CPC – Authorities) sent letters to 20 airlines identifying several types of potentially misleading green claims and inviting them to bring their practices in line with EU consumer law within 30 days.

The CPC network, led by the Belgian Directorate General for Economic Inspection, the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets, the Norwegian Consumer Authority and the Spanish Directorate General of Consumer Affairs, focused on claims made by airlines that the CO2 emissions caused by a flight could be offset by climate projects or through the use of sustainable fuels, to which the consumers could contribute by paying additional fees. The authorities are concerned that the identified practices can be considered as misleading actions/omissions, prohibited under Articles 5, 6 and 7 of the Unfair Commercial Practices Directive. On their part, the airlines are yet to clarify whether such claims can be substantiated based on sound scientific evidence.

Key elements of the action:

The European Commission and the CPC network, have identified several types of potentially misleading practices by 20 airlines, such as:

  • creating the incorrect impression that paying an additional fee to finance climate projects with less environmental impact or to support the use of alternative aviation fuels can reduce or fully counterbalance the CO2 emissions;
  • using the term “sustainable aviation fuels” (SAF) without clearly justifying the environmental impact of such fuels;
  • using the terms “green”, “sustainable” or “responsible” in an absolute way or use other implicit green claims;
  • claiming that the airline is moving towards net-zero greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) or any future environmental performance, without clear and verifiable commitments, targets and an independent monitoring system;
  • presenting consumers with a “calculator” for the CO2 emissions of a specific flight, without providing sufficient scientific proof on whether such calculation is reliable and without the information on the elements used for such calculation;
  • presenting consumers with a comparison of flights regarding their CO2 emissions, without providing sufficient and accurate information on the elements the comparison is based on.

Related Article: EU Commission Approves €17.7 Billion Italian Boost for Centralized Electricity Storage System

The European Commission and CPC authorities invited the companies to provide a response within 30 days, outlining their proposed measures to address the concerns arising from their environmental marketing claims under EU consumer law. After receiving replies from the companies, the European Commission will organise meetings with the CPC network and the airlines, to discuss the solutions proposed by the companies. Furthermore, the Commission will monitor the implementation of the agreed-upon changes. If the airlines involved do not take the necessary steps to solve concerns raised in the letter, CPC authorities can decide to take further enforcement actions, including sanctions.

This action aims to ensure alignment of the commercial practices across the air travel sector with EU consumer legislation, by establishing the necessary substantiation and of communication of voluntary environmental claims.

Topics

Related Articles

LOADING

Type to search

Blog

IBM's ESG Suite Secures Approval to Aid Federal Agencies in ESG Data Management
Microsoft Partners with Ebb Carbon for Up to 350,000 Tonnes of CO2 Removal
MSCI Appoints Richard Mattison to Lead ESG and Climate Business
Morgan Stanley Partners with Climeworks, Signs Its First-Ever Carbon Removal Deal
KKR Acquires $3.2 Billion Stake in Enilive, Eni Biofuel Unit to Boost Sustainable Mobility
videocam In this video, Ceres Program Director Dan Saccardi joined ESG News CEO Matt Bird to discuss recent trends in ESG and corporate sustainability
Gevo Secures $1.46 Billion DOE Loan for World’s First Net-Zero Aviation Fuel Plant
Bureau Veritas Acquires Aligned Incentives, Expanding AI-Powered Sustainability Services
Saudi Arabia Secures $9.8B in Private Investments for Sustainable Agriculture Projects
Switzerland to Launch World-First Solar Panels on Railway Tracks for Clean Energy by 2025
Saur Group Issues €500M Blue Bond for Sustainable Water Projects
43% Surge in Companies Disclosing Biodiversity Data, Says CDP Report
Masdar, EDF, and TotalEnergies Shortlisted for $2.12 Billion Saudi Solar Projects Under NREP
85% of Investors to Prioritize Sustainability as Private Equity Accelerates Net Zero Efforts BCG Report
H&M Launches Global Change Award to Accelerate Net-Zero Textile Industry by 2050
EU Invests €4.8 Billion in Innovative Net-Zero Projects Funded Through Carbon Pricing System
61% of EU Companies Invest in Climate Action: EIB Investment Survey 2024
PortF to Streamline ESG Reporting
HKMA Launches Sustainable Finance Action Agenda with Eight Key Goals
SAP, Ambipar Launch Tool to Help Firms Manage and Offset Carbon Emissions Globally
JPMorgan, Natixis-Backed Taskforce Unveils Guidelines to Boost Transparency in Reporting SDGs Progress
JPMorgan Appoints Ex-NOAA Chief Scientist Sarah Kapnick as Global Head of Climate Advisory smaller
83% of CSOs See C-Suite Collaboration Driving Ambitious Sustainability Goals
8 Ways Google is Using AI to Help Cities Become More Sustainable
SEC Charges WisdomTree for Misleading ESG Fund Practices
HKMC Issues Record $3 Billion Social Bond, Largest in Asia Pacific
61% of EY Suppliers Have Adopted Science-Based Targets in FY24
videocam JP Morgan’s impact taskforce and $10 billion
SAP Launches Sustainability Data Exchange to Help Companies Achieve Net-Zero Goals
90% of Building Products Companies Gain Revenue From Sustainable Products: Morningstar Sustainalytics
ICC Unveils New Principles for Sustainable Trade Finance to Combat Greenwashing
U.S DOE Launches $900 Million for Next-Generation Nuclear Technology
UK Appoints Ruth Davis as First Special Representative for Nature Ahead of COP16
Mercedes F1 Cuts 500 Tonnes of CO2e with Biofuels in European Season
Standard Chartered Launches ESG-Linked Trade Loans to Boost Global Commodity Decarbonization
ESG News Week In Review: 14 October - 20 October
videocam Datamaran CEO Marjella Lecourt-Alma Closes $33M Funding Round To Innovate ESG Data Solutions
ESG News Week In Review
Amazon’s Climate Pledge Fund Leads $500M Investment in X-energy’s Nuclear Reactor Technology
Sustainable Funds Reach Record $3.5 Trillion AUM in 2024: Morgan Stanley Report
Meta Pledges $35 Million for Carbon Removal Projects in Partnership with U.S. Department of Energy
CalSTRS Awards $150M Sustainability Mandate to Ninety One’s Global Environment Strategy
Brazil state to consult Indigenous people on carbon credits sale
79% of Food and Agriculture Executives Report Revenue Growth from Sustainability Investments Deloitte Survey
Oliver Wyman Appoints Ziad Moukarzel as New Head of Climate & Sustainability for MENA and India
ClientEarth Files Greenwashing Complaint Against BlackRock Over 'Sustainable' Investment Claims
Univers Launches Industry’s First End-to-End AI-Powered Decarbonization Software
3M Launches "Green Works" Docuseries to Spotlight Green Jobs and Close the Climate Talent Gap
U.S. Department of Energy Approves $3 Billion for Two Sustainable Aviation Fuel Projects
COP29 Azerbaijan Launches Public Sustainability Training to Empower Public Ahead of Climate Summit
World Bank Raises GBP 700 Million in 10-Year Sustainable Development Bond to Support Global Initiatives
Over 450 Businesses Advance Nature Positive Solutions to Halve Emissions by 2030
Amazon Joins Google in Nuclear Energy Deals for Carbon-Free Growth
videocam Siemens Financial Services' CEO Anthony Casciano sits with ESG News to discuss ESG Tools and Partnerships
Bloomberg Launches New Tool to Help Investors Assess Biodiversity, Nature-Related Risks
Germany Allocates $3 Billion to Help Industries Cut Carbon Emissions
eBay Expands Circular Fashion Fund to Global Markets with $1.2M Investment by 2025
PwC UK, IFS Collaborate to Help Companies Meet New EU Sustainability Reporting Requirements
Sustainability Insights: Middle East Sustainable Bond Issuance Trends
Bloomberg Philanthropies Partners with U20 to Boost Urban Climate Action at G20 Summit
ADNOC Increases Stake in Fertiglobe to Drive Global Low-Carbon Ammonia Growth
99% of Insurers Set Low-Carbon Transition Goals Within Their Investment Portfolios- BlackRock Survey
$737 Billion Annual Nature-Based Finance Gap Puts Two-Thirds of Asia's GDP at Risk, CDP Report Finds
IBM Acquires Prescinto to Boost AI-Driven Asset Performance Management for Renewable Energy
Fidelity International Launches Global Blue Transition Bond Fund, Targets Ocean and Freshwater Sustainability
Saudi Arabia Completes First Hydrogen Train Test in Middle East
J.P. Morgan, Capital One Backs BrightNight with $260M Tax-Equity Financing for Solar Projec
65% of Real Estate Participants Set Net Zero Targets: GRESB's 2024 ESG Benchmark
Google Signs World's First Corporate Nuclear Energy Deal to Power Clean AI Growth
videocam ESG Insider Co-Host Lindsey Hall & Esther Whieldon Join ESG News CEO Matt Bird To Discuss Their Podcast Journey
ESG Book's sustainability data with Zfolio's platform to automate financed emissions calculations
The Middle East’s Sustainability Leaders 2024
Greece Aims for Renewables to Account for 82% of Electricity Generation by 2030
Nuclear Energy
Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund Unveils Nearly $20 Billion Plan for Green Projects
Macquarie Group
videocam Thomas Körmendi of Elopak ELO.OL Matt Bird ESG News Sustainable Packaging
ESG News Week in Review
Calls for Carbon Market Regulation Grow Amid Climate Disasters
Capgemini Expands Global Alliance with Sustaira to Drive AI-Enabled Sustainability Solutions
Microsoft Expands AI Tools for Sustainability: What-If Analysis, Intelligent Insights, and Enhanced ESG Reporting
Zara, H&M, Ikea and Primark to Launch Textile Waste Pilot Ahead of EU Regulations
Petrobras to Launch First Renewable Hydrogen Pilot Plant by 2026 with $90M Investment
Iberdrola to Invest $31 Billion in UK by 2028, Doubling Investment to Boost Grid and Renewables
S&P Global Launches Climate Center to Advance Climate, Environmental and Nature Research
Japan's ESG Investments Surge as 311 Companies Join FTSE Blossom Japan Index: FTSE Russel Report
Vistria Group Enhances Sustainable Real Estate Strategy with Measurabl
CDPQ and Nuveen Green Capital Launch $600 Million Program for Sustainable Commercial Real Estate
Dutch Bank ING Appoints Jonathan Keyes as Head of Sustainable Finance in Middle East
Canada to Launch Sustainable Investment Taxonomy to Drive Net-Zero Progress
Canada To Sets Mandatory Climate Disclosure Criteria for Large Private Companies
Rio Tinto to Acquire Arcadium Lithium in $6.7 Billion Deal to Boost Energy Transition Metals
RepRisk Reports First Decline in Greenwashing Incidents in Six Years, Yet Severity Rises
Sustainable Finance
High Court Blocks Plans for the UK's First Deep Coal Mine in Over 30 Years
Deloitte Denmark Aids Carlsberg Group in Navigating New ESG Legislation
Google Secures 12-Year Renewable Energy Deal with energyRe for 435 MW Solar Project
Goldman Sachs Invests $440M in BrightNight to Drive U.S. Renewable Energy Expansion
Fitch Warns Global Decarbonisation Efforts Lag, Driven by Emerging Markets
videocam Mandi McReynolds, Chief Sustainability Officer at Workiva, on The Latest CSRD Regulation
","session_id":"ep-sess-1760538906-1V7DkYj6","page_url":"https:\/\/esgnews.com\/eu-commission-takes-action-against-20-airlines-for-misleading-greenwashing-practices\/","post_id":"26810","tracking_enabled":"1","original_referrer":"","has_embedded_content":""}; /* ]]> */