The Competition Bureau has published its final guideline on environmental claims, following two rounds of public consultations held over the past year.
These guidelines aim to assist businesses in complying with the Competition Act when making environmental claims, including the new greenwashing provisions introduced through legislative amendments that took effect on June 20, 2024.
The final guideline does not dictate when or how businesses should make environmental claims. Rather, companies remain free to make such claims, provided they are truthful, not misleading, and properly substantiated where necessary.
After reviewing more than 400 public submissions, the Bureau has finalized the guidelines. Additional details about the consultation process can be found in the backgrounder available on the Bureau’s website.
The Competition Bureau clarified that its guidelines on environmental claims do not dictate what claims businesses can make or when—they simply require that claims not be false or misleading and be properly substantiated. The Bureau emphasized that its role is to enforce the law, not create or interpret it; that responsibility lies with Parliament and the courts. It also rejected calls to apply securities law standards, noting that the Competition Act serves broader consumer protection goals.
The Bureau extends its sincere thanks to all participants in their consultations and strongly encourages businesses to review the guidelines carefully before making environmental claims.
