Green Claims and Procurement: New Rules on Environmental Marketing Claims and Purchasing

The growing prominence of the climate change problem is leading many companies to claim that they are "carbon neutral" or have "water neutrality." The claims have captured the attention of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which has launched a new review of its guidelines for environmental marketing claims. The markets for carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates are getting particular scrutiny. Our program features a top enforcement official of the FTC and a trade regulation expert from Arnold & Porter discussing the shape of likely federal regulation in this area. At the same time, Congress and federal agencies are exploring ways to require government contractors to reduce the environmental impacts of the goods and services (including real estate) that they sell or lease to the federal government. The Program will explain the Office of Federal Procurement Policy's proposed "green purchasing policy," and green building and green purchasing requirements found in energy and appropriations legislation and regulations adopted in the last few months.