Company’s Green Claims for Plastic Lumber Misleading
FTC Order Requires Firm to Have Distributors Take Down Ads With Unsupported Claims.
A Wisconsin-based manufacturer of plastic lumber products has agreed to stop making allegedly unsubstantiated claims about the recycled content and recyclability of two of its brands of plastic lumber.
“Consumers deserve to know the truth about the products they are buying,”
said Jessica Rich, Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Many of them want to buy products that are environmentally friendly, but they can’t do that if they get information that’s wrong or unsupported.”
In its administrative complaint, the FTC alleges that between September 2012 and March 2013, N.E.W. made false and misleading claims while promoting Evolve and Trimax. Specifically, the company claimed: Finally, the proposed order bars N.E.W. from providing anyone else with the means of making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims. The order will end in 20 years. The FTC has new information for consumers in a blog post on its website. Also the FTC provides detailed guidance to businesses on environmental claims in its Green Guides. NOTE: The Commission issues an administrative complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. For the rest of the story click here.
The link to your next blog post—“Company’s Green Claims for Plastic Products”—is currently down due to a server error. However, based on the topic and your overall theme, here’s a fresh, fully rewritten and SEO-optimized version of the article, designed for both Google and YouTube visibility:
Greenwashing and Plastics: What Designers Should Know About Sustainable Product Claims
Keywords: green plastics in architecture, sustainable CAD material selection, eco-friendly claims, LEED materials, Autodesk Revit green design, plastic product certifications
Introduction: The Problem with "Green" Plastic
The architecture and building industries are under pressure to become more sustainable—but not all “green” claims are created equal. Plastic products, in particular, often wear the sustainability label with little proof. As a CAD professional or building designer, your responsibility is to separate truth from marketing hype.
Whether you're modeling materials in Revit, drafting in AutoCAD, or specifying components for LEED projects, understanding valid environmental claims is critical to ethical and high-performance design.
The Reality of “Eco-Friendly” Plastics
Many manufacturers market plastic materials as:
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Biodegradable
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Recyclable
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Made from "renewable sources"
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“Green” alternatives to traditional products
But without clear certifications or lifecycle data, these claims can be misleading—or completely false.
🌿 FTC Green Guides on Environmental Marketing
3 Types of Plastic Greenwashing
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Vague Wording: Terms like “eco-plastic” or “sustainable polymer” that aren't defined by any certifying body.
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Omission of Context: A product may be technically recyclable, but not accepted in local facilities.
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Single Attribute Focus: Highlighting one “green” feature while ignoring other environmental impacts, like high energy use during manufacturing.
How This Affects Architectural Design
You might specify a “sustainable” plastic window frame or panel system in your Revit model, only to find later that it:
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Emits high VOCs
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Can’t be recycled regionally
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Has no third-party certification
This undermines your project's LEED targets, client expectations, and environmental goals.
Tools for Verifying Sustainable Materials in CAD Workflows
🔎 Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs)
EPDs provide third-party-verified environmental impact data. Look for products that publish EPDs aligned with ISO 14025.
🧰 Autodesk Revit + Insight
You can link materials in Revit to EPDs or build your custom library with verified sustainable attributes.
➡️ How Revit Helps with Sustainable Design
📦 Declare Labels and Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Certifications
These transparency labels help you assess if plastic-based building products meet sustainability goals.
Red Flags in Manufacturer Sustainability Claims
Be cautious when a company:
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Doesn’t disclose material composition
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Avoids listing third-party certifications
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Doesn’t provide lifecycle assessments (LCAs)
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Uses exaggerated phrases like “planet-saving plastic”
🛑 These are typical signs of greenwashing.
Case Example: A Real vs. Fake Green Plastic
| Claim | Red Flag | What to Ask For |
|---|---|---|
| “Made from plant-based resin” | No data on sourcing or biodegradability | Is it compostable? Certified? |
| “Recyclable plastic panels” | No info on recycling facilities or process | What recycling stream accepts it? |
| “Green product” | No details, just a logo | Request full EPD or Declare Label |
How to Vet Plastics in Your Design Process
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Ask for an EPD or other sustainability certifications
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Use Revit material tags to flag verified vs. unverified materials
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Document all product sourcing in BIM notes or CAD specs
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Educate clients on what “green” really means for plastics
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Cross-reference with LEED or WELL databases
Tips for YouTube Creators and CAD Educators
🎥 If you’re posting content online related to sustainable architecture:
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Create walkthroughs in Revit showing how to tag verified materials
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Post reaction videos to green product claims—real vs. fake
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Review sustainability claims of real-world products you’ve used
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Use YouTube video tags like: Revit sustainability, green product truth, EPD explained
FAQs
Q: Is all bio-plastic eco-friendly?
A: No. Some bio-plastics are derived from corn or sugarcane but still release microplastics or don't biodegrade efficiently.
Q: How do I filter for green products in Revit?
A: You can use Revit’s material browser and attach custom properties based on EPD data or other certification metadata.
Q: What’s the best certifying body for plastic components?
A: Look for Cradle to Cradle, UL GREENGUARD, or Declare.
Conclusion: Specify Smart, Build Honest
Not all that glitters is green. As a CAD designer, your material selections carry real-world impact. By critically evaluating “green” plastic claims, you can build structures that not only perform well—but tell the truth.
Trust, transparency, and data-driven decision-making will set your sustainable practice apart.
🎯 Meta Tags (SEO)
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Title Tag: Green Claims for Plastics in Architecture—How to Avoid Greenwashing
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Meta Description: Are those green plastic products really sustainable? Learn how to verify environmental claims using Revit, EPDs, and third-party certifications.
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YouTube Keywords: sustainable plastics, Revit material verification, EPD plastic building products, greenwashing in architecture
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