Sustainable Building Forum

Australian consumer watchdogs are starting to scrutinize green marketing claims, specifically claims regarding carbon offsets.  Similar issues arose in the U.S as the term organic was being popularized, forcing the USDA to step in and establish the National Organic Program (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NOP/standards/Intro.html). 

Full Story:   Australia Investigating Green Marketing Claims (http://smallbusiness.smh.com.au/starting/legal/'green'-marketing-face-scrutiny-901297112.html)

Green can mean many things, so I think its unlikely we see a National Green Program, but it will be interesting to see how similar consumer protection issues play out in the U.S.

I think they're right to examine it, because it's an area that's ripe for abuse. What upsets me even more are "green living" publications that overemphasize purchasing new products, instead of reducing consumption and the physical footprint one person occupies.