Policy and Regulatory Insights

Businesses can avoid greenwashing under Australian Consumer Law by following the ACCC’s eight principles: ensure accuracy and truthfulness, provide supporting evidence, give full disclosure, state clear conditions and qualifications, be specific and honest, use understandable language, ensure accurate visuals, and communicate a transparent, realistic sustainability transition rather than vague or unsubstantiated environmental claims.

The Climate Active Program is technically open to any small to medium business but is often impractical due to cost and complexity. A small business emitting around 65t CO2 per year can expect total annual costs of about $6,617, covering verification consultants, offsets and licence fees, excluding time, making it unsuitable for many smaller operators.