The Fair Advertising Commission (FAC) is a non-judicial body that examines complaints alleging violations of the Swiss Fairness Principles in Commercial Communication.

The Foundation for Consumer Protection (Stiftung für Konsumentenschutz) filed a complaint with the FAC against a heating oil provider (Kübler Heizöl) concerning the company’s advertisement of its heating oil product as “climate neutral” (case 168/23).

The FAC held that this advertisement was misleading and recommended that the company refrain from it:
“The complaint is upheld. The respondent is recommended to refrain from making the contested statement "xxxxxxxx heating oil is climate-neutral" in future, unless it creates a clear reference to the company and can provide full proof at the time of communication that all climate-relevant effects associated with production have been calculated using generally accepted methods, as well as unquestionable proof that these climate-relevant effects have been fully offset.” (translation from German)

Stiftung für Konsumentenschutz v. Kübler Heizöl

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Stiftung für Konsumentenschutz v. Kübler Heizöl - judgment

Filed

Switzerland

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

Justice is the ethical and political framework that addresses fairness, including issues of responsibility, rights, and structural inequity.

Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

Fossil fuel is a generic term for non-renewable energy sources such as coal, fossil gas, and oil (including crude oil, and petroleum products), that can be used for electricity and heat generation. Fossil fuels are hydrocarbons formed from pressurised and heated organic material buried over millions of years.

Molecules in the atmosphere that play a key role in the greenhouse effect by trapping heat radiating from Earth’s surface.

Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

Either money or something of monetary value is transferred between two or more organisations, people or countries.

A long-lived, colourless gas, chiefly emitted from fossil fuel combustion, deforestation and cement production.

Oil is a combustible liquid fossil fuel composed mainly of hydrocarbons, occurring as crude oil and refined into petroleum products such as petrol, diesel and kerosene.

woman and genders outside of the gender binary

This sector involves activities to move goods and people, alongside the storage of products.

This sector creates and distributes information and entertainment through television, radio, print, and digital platforms.

Stiftung für Konsumentenschutz v. Kübler Heizöl - judgment

Impacted group

Fossil fuel

Greenhouse gas

Economic sector

Finance