在今天的美国市场上,消费者常常要寻找对环境无害的产品。对那些具有绿色意识的人们来说,了解某一产品环境安全性的最便捷途径,莫过于该产品的销售标签。许多人企求看到“可生物降解”,“可回收利用”和“对臭氧层无害”等文字。然而,尽管这些词汇有利于产品促销,但生产厂家务必谨慎行事,确保这些推销用语名副其实,否则极有可能招致严重后果。 例如,某个名牌气雾型空气清新剂的生产厂家,由于该产品在生产过程中不会产生含氯氟烃,所以在推销时称之为“对臭氧层无害”。然而该厂家却未曾披露,用作其代用品的是另一种空气污染物丁烷气。 《工业周刊》杂志指出,就失实或误导性环境广告、包装或标签展开调查并起诉的,主要是联邦政府、各州政府和竞争对手这三方面。联邦贸易委员会(FTC)有权对误导性“绿色宣传”的公司展开调查并提起公诉。FTC既可以起诉某公司,也可以发出禁止有关产品推销的指令,既可以设法对某公司罚款,也可以强制某公司对受害消费者予以赔偿。罚款和赔额按有关广告造成的不同损害程度而定,从数千美元至数百万美元不等。 In today’s US market, consumers often look for environmentally friendly products. For those who are green-minded, the easiest way to understand the safety of a product’s environment is the product’s sales label. Many people seek to see words such as “biodegradable,” “recyclable,” and “harmful to the ozone layer.” However, although these terms are conducive to product promotion, manufacturers must be careful to ensure that these marketing terms are true, otherwise it is very likely to incur serious consequences. For example, the manufacturer of a brand-name aerosol air freshener will not produce chlorofluorocarbons during the production process, so it is called “no harm to the ozone layer” when it is sold. However, the manufacturer did not disclose that it was used as a substitute for butane gas, another air pollutant. “Industrial Weekly” magazine pointed out that the investigation and prosecution of misleading or misleading environmental advertisements, packaging or labels are mainly the three aspects of the federal government, state governments and competitors. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has the power to investigate misleading “green propaganda” companies and prosecute them. FTC can both sue a certain company and issue orders prohibiting the promotion of related products. It can either try to fine a company or force a company to compensate the victim. Fines and indemnities vary according to the degree of damage caused by the relevant advertisements, ranging from thousands of dollars to millions of dollars.