The REP Wrap: Swiss government issues greenwashing guidance
Your weekly summary of corporate sustainability news.
The Swiss environment ministry has published an “enforcement aid” to help companies stay on the right side of the country’s Federal Act on Unfair Competition. Last year, the government introduced stricter anti-greenwashing rules, which relate to the way climate-related language can be used when describing products. This week’s guidance says “product-related information may not be justified by offsetting measures” – although offsets may be accessible at entity level – and that “the term ‘climate-neutral’ is not currently verifiable and should not be used”.
The trade body for Europe’s chemicals industry appears to have walked back on claims that 1,300 companies had called for revisions to the EU Emissions Trading System. According to Politico, a letter sent to EU leaders ‘on behalf’ of 1,300 firms recently was not actually signed by all of them. Cefic, which coordinated the petition, now says the letter “reflects the many opinions” it heard during consultations, but would no longer confirm how many companies had signed it.
The European Commission has published its proposal for the Industrial Accelerator Act, in which it lays out a set of ‘buy clean’ and ‘buy European’ requirements aimed at boosting low-carbon business in the region. The plan would require major public projects in the EU to source a certain level of their materials from low-carbon producers, starting from 2029. For example, at least a quarter of any steel and aluminium would have to be green, and 5% of concrete or cement. The same thresholds would apply for key projects wanting to access government grants or subsidies.
Google, Amazon and Salesforce are behind a new $100m Superpollutant Action Initiative. Launched on Thursday, the global endeavour will see participating companies identify and fund projects to cut powerful warming agents such as methane, soot and refrigerant gases.
Meanwhile another new initiative has been launched to deal with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) certificates. Future Energy Global and Climate Impact Partners have teamed up to help companies “finance SAF production and claim its environmental benefits, even without directly controlling the fuel used on flights”.
German construction firm Hochtief has slashed the number of sustainability-related impacts, risks and opportunities (IROs) it claims to have in half. The firm was among the most prolific identifiers of IROs in its first report under the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, published last year. It said it had 10 risks, nine opportunities, and more than 100 negative and positive impacts. This year, however, it has named just 58, including eight risks and opportunities.