Toy Association to Submit Comments on FTC “Green Guides” for Marketing Environmental Claims About Products

January 2, 2023 | The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has voted to move forward with updating its “Green Guides,” which may impact toy manufacturers that label or market toys, games, or other products as environmentally friendly.

The FTC will be soliciting public comment on the Green Guides with topics including guidance on carbon offset and renewable energy claims and defining terms such as “recyclable,” “recycled content,” “compostable,” “sustainable,” and more. The Toy Association will develop comments on priority topics based on feedback from the Environmental Sustainability Committee and provide any relevant updates to members.

The FTC’s Green Guides were created to help marketers avoid making environmental marketing claims that are deceptive to consumers; FTC seeks to update the guides based on increasing consumer interest in buying such products. The Green Guides were first issued in 1992 and were revised in 1996, 1998, and 2012.

“Consumers are increasingly conscious of how the products they buy affect the environment, and depend on marketers’ environmental claims to be truthful,” the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Samuel Levine said. “We look forward to this review process, and will make any updates necessary to ensure the Green Guides provide current, accurate information about consumer perception of environmental benefit claims. This will both help marketers make truthful claims and consumers find the products they seek.”

Members may reach out to The Toy Association’s Jennifer Gibbons, senior vice president of government affairs, about the Toy Association’s comments to FTC and any other questions on this topic.