On October 6, 2010, the Federal Trade Commission released to the public proposed revisions to its Green Guides.  The Green are intended to assist advertisers of products and services having environmental attributes to avoid making deceptive or untruthful marketing claims.

According to a press release issued by the FTC on the matter, “[t]he proposed changes are designed to update the Guides and make them easier for companies to understand and use.”  Among the changes being proposed by the FTC are clarifications to the meanings of certain terms already addressed by the Green Guides, such as “degradable” and “compostable,” and the addition of guidance on the use of product certifications and seals of approval and claims relating to renewable energy, building materials and carbon offsets.  A summary and the complete text of the proposed revisions to the Green Guides are available at the FTC’s web page dedicated to this topic.

Interested parties may submit comments to the FTC on the proposed revisions to the Green Guides during the 60-day period that commenced yesterday and which will end on December 10, 2010.