SUSTAINABILITY
using Excel for this , and , instead , employ an online platform that has been created for this purpose . Based on such data , you ’ ll be ready to provide claims based on facts .”
Mjelde adds that businesses must also avoid vagueness in business statements .
Proving claims is vital to avoid greenwashing charges “ Make sure you can prove all the information if required ,” she says . “ For example , the claim ‘ We used 30 % less water in our drying house in China for our SportsLine in 2022 compared to 2021 ’ is a reasonable claim that can be proven and followed up .
“ But the claim ‘ We used 30 % less water in production ’ is not specific enough to be measured , so puts you at risk of greenwashing .”
Claims around products , meanwhile , require documentation , says Mjelde : “ Failing to provide data for product claims is the most common reason companies find themselves accused of greenwashing .
“ If you are making a specific product claim , then documentation needs to be traced across the supply chain , from raw materials to the actual finished product .”
She says non-profit group Textile Exchange is a key organisation in this area , having established “ clear and strict rules ” about what ’ s allowed to be said as part of a product claim .
98 January 2023