Enviros to FTC: Stop Whole Foods Greenwashing

As Earth Day Nears, Enviro Group Holds Corporation Accountable for
Deceptive Marketing Practices, says Environmental Affairs Council
SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(Business Wire)--
The Environmental Affairs Council, acting on behalf of the public
interest, filed an action today with the Federal Trade Commission
(FTC) urging the Commission to investigate Whole Foods environmental
marketing claims surrounding its paper grocery bags.

"Whole Foods Market, Inc. is up to its old tricks again," said
Steve Hamilton, president of the Environmental Affairs Council. "The
company is engaged in a comprehensive marketing scheme involving
false, misleading, and unsubstantiated claims about the environmental
benefits of the paper grocery bags it distributes to consumers. It is
'greenwashing' at its worst. The complaint filed with the FTC speaks
for itself, and I encourage others to look into these practices."

The Environmental Affairs Council contends that Whole Foods
"directly and by implication claims, without appropriate scientific
support, that shopping at Whole Foods as opposed to other supermarkets
is better for the environment, because Whole Foods provides only '100%
recycled' paper grocery bags and has phased out plastic bags. This
paper vs. plastic debate is a serious, complicated, and unsettled
scientific issue undeserving of such simple and deceptive treatment.
Whole Foods further compounds and supports this scheme by falsely
identifying the recycled content of its paper shopping bags," said EAC
President Steve Hamilton.

"By embarking on its false and unsubstantiated anti-plastic
publicity stunt, Whole Foods is seeking to boost its profit margin and
enhance its manufactured image as an environmentally friendly
corporation. Whole Foods publicity stunt is yet another example of a
purportedly environmentally friendly corporation 'Greenwashing' the
general public by deceiving consumers about the environmental benefits
of its products. Whole Foods self-serving marketing scheme is being
advanced at the expense of consumers, the environment, and truthful
scientific debate," continued Hamilton.

Whole Foods "faux-enviro" initiative is being supported by paper
bag manufacturers such as Duro Bag Manufacturing Co., Whole Foods
paper bag manufacturing partner and the largest paper grocery bag
manufacturer in the U.S. Paper bag manufacturers such as Duro have a
significant financial stake in ensuring that paper bags are promoted
at the expense of plastic bags, regardless of whether that result is
achieved by deceiving consumers and harming the environment.

A copy of the FTC complaint and supporting documentation is posted
on the Environmental Affairs Council website at:

www.enviroaffairscouncil.org

steve@enviroaffairscouncil.org

Environmental Affairs Council
Doreen Muzzi, 916-601-2805 (Media)
http://www.enviroaffairscouncil.org

Copyright Business Wire 2008