Greenpeace Australia Pacific has filed a complaint against the Australian competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) against Toyota. The complaint has asked ACCC to investigate the environmental claims of Toyota. They believe the Toyota company is misleading through its greenwashing. Meanwhile, the company says it’s committed to a sustainable future.
On Friday, the environmental defender’s office filed the complaint on behalf of Greenpeace. It mainly focuses on the performance of the vehicle and its net zero ambitions.
247 businesses and brands are misleading
According to a survey, around 247 businesses and brands’ credentials show misleading statements. The competition watchdog has a signal at setting a probe into the company’s claims. Meanwhile, a Toyota spokesperson rejects the claim and says the company is committed to achieving a sustainable future.
They said, “Toyota Australia has a long track record in helping customers reduce their vehicle emissions, including through the supply of over 315,000 hybrid-electric vehicles and investment in reduced tailpipe emissions vehicles and carbon neutral technologies,”
The complaint put allegations on the company saying it’s not seeking a quick transition to electric vehicles. Additionaly, it has caused lobbying for a global halt and delayed vehicle emissions standards. Moreover, they claim Toyota’s hybrid vehicles are not ‘’self-charging’’. Rather they require petrol.
Toyota’s advertisement for its self-charging hybrid banned in Norway
In 2020, Norway banned Toyota’s advertisement for the Self-charging hybrid saying it was misleading consumers. Moreover, the company has also faced challenges over defective diesel particulate filters in Australia.
Furthermore, Kirsty Ruddock, managing lawyer at the Environmental Defenders Office said, ‘’If companies like Toyota continue to behave in this manner, they run the very real risk of eroding their social license. Moreover, seriously damaging their brand and their customer base.’’
A spokesperson for the ACCC said “Greenwashing is a priority for the ACCC and we are currently examining several concerns about greenwashing involving a range of industries,”
They said the regulator would consider the complaint filed by the EDO on Friday morning.
