Eco-Friendly Marketing Claims Face Scrutiny by State Lawmakers

State lawmakers across the country will take aim this year at environmental marketing claims with proposals to limit “greenwashing,” or overstating the sustainability or environmental benefit of a product or business.

Bills filed in states including New York, Washington, and New Hampshire propose bolstering requirements against deceptive or misleading claims that plastic products are recyclable. The efforts are primarily led by Democrats, who hold legislative majorities in New York and Washington.

A new Colorado law that largely took effect on Jan. 1 introduces stricter standards around representing a product as compostable.

The state action comes as the Federal Trade Commission ...