FTC: "Tested Green" Certification Tested Nothing, Certified Nothing ... and Wasn't Green

The Federal Trade Commission is cracking down on another dubious green marketing claim. (It previously attacked the use of bamboo and announced plans to revise green marketing claims guidance.)

In the latest effort, the FTC is close to settling with Tested Green, a company that purported to certify green products and be independently endorsed – but the "independent" endorsing organizations (National Green Business Association and the National Association of Government Contractors) were also owned by the same man who owns Tested Green, Jeremy Ryan Claeys. He charged $189.95 for a "Rapid" certification and $549.95 for a "Pro" certification – neither of which said anything meaningful about the environmental credentials of the "certified" company. But companies and customers could easily be fooled, according to the FTC.

The alleged racket was relatively short-lived, lasting from February 2009 until April 2010. Claeys won't face a fine or jail time under the proposed settlement, but he will basically be out of the green certifying business for at least 20 years. The testedgreen.com Website is already defunct.

"It's really tough for most people to know whether green or environmental claims are credible," said David Vladeck, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "Legitimate seals and certifications are a useful tool that can help consumers choose where to place their trust and how to spend their money. The FTC will continue to weed out deceptive seals and certifications like the one in this case."

COMMENTS ()