Complying with Canada's Greenwashing Legislation
Ensure you are adhering to the latest environmental claim standards.
What you need to know
In 2024, the Canadian government, through the Competition Bureau, introduced new regulations to address greenwashing—making misleading or false claims about the environmental benefits of products, services, or business practices.
As a seller, you may need to update your listings to either remove unsubstantiated environmental claims or provide evidence to support them within the listing itself.
Understanding the rules
These new rules are designed to prevent businesses from making misleading claims regarding the environmental benefits of their products or business practices. Listings that assert such benefits may be subject to the greenwashing legislation.
If your listing includes claims about the environmental advantages of your product or business practices, such as using reusable shipping materials, you must include credible evidence within the listing, like a link to certification from a recognized authority.
General Guidance
When creating or reviewing listings, consider whether you are making environmental claims that require substantiation. This includes claims in the title, photos, or description. If so, these claims may be subject to the new regulations.
- Avoid using terms like "sustainable," "environmentally friendly," or "eco-friendly" without evidence.
- If your listing shares details about environmentally friendly shipping practices, be sure to detail precisely what practices this includes in your listing. Avoid making any statements that cannot be substantiated.
- If your product, or your business, has received a certification from a third-party organization for particular eco-friendly practices that you feature in your listing, your description should also note the specific benefits that this certification ensures.
- You should only claim that a product (or packaging material) is compostable if you also can provide evidence to substantiate that it will break down within one year of disposal.
Potential actions
If your listing includes environmental claims, you may receive an automated reminder from eBay about your obligations under the Competition Act. If customers report a listing for misleading claims, it may be reviewed and possibly removed by eBay.
For more information, visit the Competition Bureau of Canada website
Frequently Asked Questions
Who do these rules apply to?
These rules apply to all sellers in Canada making environmental claims.
Note that using terms associated with environmental claims doesn't automatically mean you are making such a claim. For example, selling a book titled "How to be Environmentally Friendly" doesn't require action unless the listing claims environmental benefits for the product or your business.
What counts as an environmental claim?
Listings that include the following terms, in the description, title, or in pictures/videos, may be flagged as including an environmental claim. Note that this can apply both to the product itself, as well as any business practices.
- Sustainable
- Eco-friendly
- Environmentally friendly
- Biodegradable
- Compostable
- Carbon-neutral
Note that this list is not exhaustive. Any claim found to include misleading or false environmental benefits may be in violation of Canada’s greenwashing rules.
Can I still make environmental claims if I can substantiate them?
Yes, you can make environmental claims if you provide supporting evidence, such as third-party certification from a recognized international body.
What will happen if my listings are not compliant?
If a customer flags a listing and it's found to have unsubstantiated environmental claims, it may be removed.
Please note that eBay cannot provide legal advice, and these FAQs only constitute general information. For detailed advice on how this regulation applies to you and your specific products and listings, please reach out to your legal counsel.