SLK reprimands oil and gas industry

The environmental organization was disturbed by statements such as: "Natural gas pollutes the environment less than heating oil, wood chips, pellets or imported coal-fired electricity" or: "Today, the most effective measure in terms of climate policy is to replace heating oil with natural gas". The Third Chamber of the Swiss Fairness Commission (SLK) upheld Greenpeace's complaint against VSG in two cases, as it announced on Tuesday. According to the statement, VSG was unable to substantiate either the claim "natural gas pollutes the environment less..." or the statement "the most effective measure in terms of climate policy" with neutral facts, such as expert opinions from independent third parties.

Advertisers are required by the Law against Unfair Competition, the principles of the SLK and a code of conduct to ensure that claims about products and services and their comparison with competing products are not false or misleading. Environmental advertising claims in particular must not convey unclear or vague ideas, and comparisons must only be made if a significant advantage is in prospect.

Also criticized petroleum advertising

Greenpeace was therefore also successful with another complaint against the Petroleum Association. The advertising statements objected to were: "Replacing an old oil heating system with a new oil heating system is in any case the most favorable variant", "Oil heating technology is often the most effective and economical way to achieve economical energy consumption and more climate protection" and "When it comes to choosing a heating system, from an environmental point of view, it is almost a toss-up which system one chooses". Both the assertion, "in each case the most favorable variant" and "the superlative assertion 'often the most effective and most economical way' could not be sufficiently substantiated", writes the SLK. On the other hand, the statement "in environmental terms, almost hopped like jumped" was a fuzzy idea about environmental friendliness. The complaint against a statement of the VSG and two further statements of the petroleum association were rejected. Thus, an advertisement with the sentence "If you now rely on a new natural gas heating system, nature thanks you" is not unfair, since according to the SLK "a new heating system is in general understanding always more environmentally friendly than an old one". The Petroleum Association was concerned with statements on the better environmental balance of new oil heating systems compared to old systems. Greenpeace Switzerland is pleased with the decision of the SLK "and expects that from now on no more disinformation will be practiced," the environmental organization said Tuesday. (SDA)