Singapore studying developments in greenwashing in other countries

SINGAPORE is studying developments on greenwashing in other jurisdictions “to assess if any specific guidance or regulations would be useful in the Singapore context”, said Minister of State for Trade and Industry Alvin Tan in Parliament on Tuesday (Mar 21).

This is even while the current scope of the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act is “sufficiently broad” to address greenwashing claims by a supplier in a business-to-consumer transaction, Tan said.

He was replying to Workers’ Party Member of Parliament Leon Perera, who had asked about enforcement taken against greenwashing under the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act in the last five years, and the possibility of future greenwashing-related legislation.

Some countries have legislated that when brands make green claims, they must provide supporting documentation to an authority or go through an independent audit, said Perera.

Tan replied that the Consumers Association of Singapore and the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore have not received any specific complaints alleging greenwashing.

He added that there are existing guidelines under the Singapore Code of Advertising Practice to ensure that advertisers clearly explain, adequately substantiate and qualify any environmental claim where necessary.