GPI Submits Comments on Federal Trade Commission's Revised 'Green Guides'
Late last year, the Glass Packaging Institute, which represents North American glass container manufacturers, filed comments on the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) revised “Green Guides”.
“Our industry agrees with many of the changes proposed by the FTC,” said Joseph J. Cattaneo, GPI President. “These include the continued need for guidance to the packaging industry, setting a clear threshold for how much recyclable content can be included in a product for it to be considered ‘recycled’, and factoring in the amount of time it takes for material to breakdown in order to claim it is ‘degradable’.”
“We also think it’s essential that the Green Guides clarify the difference between what is ‘recyclable’ and what is ‘downcycled’,” added Cattaneo. “Many products that claim to be recyclable can’t be recycled back into their original form, but are only downcycled into products that will eventually end up in a landfill. Glass packaging, by contrast, can be recycled endlessly back into glass bottles. Most other packaging materials cannot be returned to their original form.”
GPI also urged the FTC to ensure in its final guides that a truthful claim, such as that glass is “endlessly recyclable,” can continue to be made.
In addition, GPI urged the FTC to ensure claims that a product is “free of” a substance of consumer health or environmental concern, such as bisphenol A (BPA), can continue to be made for products, such as glass containers, that never have contained the substance to avoid inadvertently limiting provision of truthful and useful information to consumers.
The proposed revisions include changes specifically designed to strengthen the FTC’s guidance on marketing claims not common when the Guides were last reviewed. Proposed changes were developed using information collected via three public workshops, public comments, and a study of how consumers understand certain environmental claims. The final Guides are expected to be released in late 2011. More
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About the institute
The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) is the trade association representing the North American glass container industry. Through GPI, glass container manufacturers speak with one voice to advocate industry standards, promote sound environmental policies and educate packaging professionals. GPI member companies manufacture glass containers for food, beverage, cosmetic and many other products. GPI also has associate members that represent a broad range of suppliers and closure manufacturers.
