As people across the globe become more aware of environmental issues, the desire for green products and services is growing. But with all the environmentally friendly claims made around products these days, how can consumers know which claims are accurate and which fall into the category of greenwashing? According to the Ecolabel Index, there are currently 456 ecolabels in the marketplace, each claiming some sort of sustainability-related benefit associated with a product or service. Consumers are enticed by claims that products are eco-friendly, organic, natural and green, and the number of products purporting these claims is increasing. With eco credentials proliferating and corporations looking to capitalize on sustainability, the practice of greenwashing — making exaggerated, unsubstantiated or outright false claims to convince consumers a product is environmentally friendly — is becoming more common.

Recent studies show that a majority of shoppers care not only about what goes into their foods and beverages, but also about the packaging materials that protect those products. For these shoppers, words like “renewable,” “recyclable,” and “responsible” are linked to personal health and sustainable lifestyles. But do these words influence consumers’ brand loyalty and decisions about the products they purchase? click Read More below for additional detail

Pindo Deli Pulp and Paper Mills, a business unit of Asia Pulp and Paper Group (APP), is introducing a further innovation to save energy and natural resources in its production process. In collaboration with the IDH Sustainable Trade Initiative, Pindo Deli is incorporating the new Clean Manufacturing Program (CMP) into the production of all its paper, tissue and packaging products. The Clean Manufacturing Program emphasizes the need for greater energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reductions, as part of APP's commitment to the Roadmap Vision 2020. The program also supports the Indonesian Government's Nationally Determined Contribution, which includes an unconditional greenhouse gas emissions reduction target of 29% by 2030. APP began to implement CMP in the fourth quarter of 2016 and the process will continue for the next 12 months. The main objective is to identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency and to implement measures to achieve optimal savings in energy use and carbon emissions over the short and long term. click Read More below for additional detail