CPEQ launches a new guide to help businesses avoid greenwashing
The Conseil Patronal de l’Environnement du Québec (CPEQ) has released Avoiding Greenwashing: Best Practices for Businesses as its newest resource.
Aimed at organizations across every sector, the guide, issued on October 9th, offers practical tips to help decision-makers understand what constitutes greenwashing, as well as recognize and prevent it. Advice is also given to avoid greenhushing – the reluctance to communicate sustainability commitments for fear of being accused of greenwashing.
The guide presents the Canadian and Quebec legal framework for environmental marketing, details the new anti-greenwashing provisions in the federal Competition Act under Bill C-59, and enriches its recommendations with real-world scenarios and action-oriented guidance. Key best practices include formulating clear, substantiated environmental claims, relying on recognized standards and third-party verification whenever possible, and being transparent about both methodology and limitations. The guide offers a practical decision framework for organizations seeking to enhance the credibility of their environmental communications and to mitigate legal or reputational risks.
The CPEQ’s mission is to promote the contributions and concerns of businesses to government and other stakeholders involved in the environment and sustainable development. It encourages clear, honest and rigorous communications to meet the public’s rising expectations, while ensuring compliance with evolving regulatory requirements and legal precedents.
Consult the new CPEQ guide for in-depth advice and strategies to reinforce the integrity of your environmental communications.