Green Claims Policy

As a significant user of resources and energy, Orangebox recognises that good environmental performance is crucial in tackling the climate and biodiversity crises our planet now faces.

We also recognise, however, that “sustainability” is becoming an increasingly influential factor in purchasing decisions, and that green washing in all its forms is becoming more prevalent, and more damaging, in many sectors, including our own.

For this reason, this policy sets out formal guidance for our employees to follow, to ensure we always communicate clearly and honestly with our stakeholders and customers alike.

This policy applies to internal and external communication, but is especially important in relation to any kind of marketing material or assets (physical or digital) created to support our products or services.

At the product and service level, Orangebox adopts the framework set-out by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in its Green Claims Code as follows: 

• Be truthful and accurate: Businesses must live up to the claims they make about their products, services,brands and activities
• Be clear and unambiguous: The meaning that a consumer is likely to take from a product’s messaging and the credentials of that product should match
• Not omit or hide important information: Claims must not prevent someone from making an informed choice because of the information they leave out
• Only make fair and meaningful comparisons: Any products compared should meet the same needs or be intended for the same purpose
• Consider the full life cycle of the product: When making claims, businesses must consider the total impact of a product or service. Claims can be misleading where they don’t reflect the overall impact or where they focus on one aspect of it but not another
• Be substantiated: Businesses should be able to back up their claims with robust, credible, and up to date evidence

Business messaging can now spread more quickly and widely than ever, thanks to the power of Social-Media. Employees should not make misleading claims in SM posts that aren’t designed to promote a specific product or service, but to endorse the organisation in a more general sense.

All external business communication related to environmental performance should adhere to the following guiding principles:

Honesty & integrity

Delivering clear and explicit messaging, that’s in no way meant to deceive or misinform.

Clarity & openness

Communicating with transparency regarding the sustainability performance of our products and services, refraining from concealing or omitting any information.

Accountability

Claims should only be made when they can be supported with measurable & accurate evidence, and we commit to sharing verifiable data on a regular basis (at least annually).