Before COP31: Turn a Broad Green Claim into Evidence Questions

Why revisit this now?

As of November 1, 2026, COP31 is scheduled for November 9–20 in Antalya. That provides a timely reason to inspect climate-related marketing. The conference does not endorse any product or claim. These checks apply U.S. FTC guidance; other jurisdictions may use different rules.

The source is a dated snapshot, not a live monitoring feed. Return by 2026-11-20, or earlier if your evidence changes. A source published in an earlier year is identified as such below; its retrieval date is not a claim that the underlying rule is new.

The useful distinction

The FTC warns that broad, unqualified claims such as green or eco-friendly are difficult, if not impossible, to substantiate.

Short labels are easy to read, but the qualification must still be specific and prominent.

This guide separates a statement from the evidence that supports it. The companion tool turns your three answers into a short, ordered action brief. It does not replace the source, contact anyone, or turn uncertainty into a confident prediction.

Three questions to resolve

1. Does the copy name a specific environmental benefit?

   A general benefit claim can communicate more than the seller intended.

   If No or Not sure: Replace the broad adjective with the precise attribute you can support.

2. Is the qualification visible beside the claim?

   The FTC calls for clear, prominent, specific qualifications.

   If No or Not sure: Put the qualification next to the claim rather than only in a distant FAQ.

3. Have material trade-offs been examined?

   A single improvement can coexist with other environmental costs.

   If No or Not sure: Ask for a trade-off explanation before implying an overall environmental benefit.

Answer Yes only when you have supporting evidence. Choose Not sure when the information is missing or unclear. No and Not sure both keep the relevant action in the brief, but the exported record preserves the difference.

A worked example

Suppose the first check is No, the second is Yes, and the third is Not sure. These are illustrative choices, not facts about you. The App evaluates all three checks, records one confirmation, and returns two evidence gaps: checks 1 and 3.

The first next step is: Replace the broad adjective with the precise attribute you can support. The brief also keeps this follow-up: Ask for a trade-off explanation before implying an overall environmental benefit.

Now change only the first answer to Yes. The result has one remaining gap, check 3, and its action becomes the next step. If all answers are Yes, the result records three confirmations without declaring the situation safe, compliant, or eligible.

What can go wrong?

A recycled wrapper does not establish that manufacturing, use, and disposal have an overall environmental benefit.

A polished brief can still contain mistaken inputs. Before acting, compare it with the original evidence and the current official instructions. If two sources conflict, ask the responsible authority or professional to resolve the conflict rather than selecting the answer you prefer.

Use the brief somewhere useful

Copy or download the environmental copy revision brief for your own records or a focused conversation. It includes your answers, unresolved actions, the rule explanations, source links, and the review date. Printing is also free; no account or payment is required.

Keep sensitive supporting documents outside this tool. A result link contains only the three status choices, but even those can reveal context. Share only after reading the warning, and do not add private identifiers to a public message.

General information only. This is not medical, legal, financial, or emergency advice. A completed checklist is not independent verification and does not submit an application, complaint, or request.

Sources, dates, and limits

1. Federal Trade Commission — Environmental Claims: Summary of the Green Guides

   The Green Guides distinguish specific environmental claims, their qualifications, and the evidence needed to support them. This is U.S. marketing guidance, not a global certification scheme.

   Publication/effective date: Undated summary; retrieved 2026-11-01. Checked 2026-11-01.

2. UNFCCC — The Road to Antalya

   COP31 is scheduled in Antalya, Türkiye, from November 9 to 20, 2026. This is a conference schedule, not an adopted outcome or a product endorsement.

   Publication/effective date: 2026-11-09 to 2026-11-20 (scheduled event). Checked 2026-11-01.