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Vertilly Environmental Claims Policy

Purpose and Scope General Principles Clear Documentation Requirements Prohibited Claims Required Disclosures  Acceptable Certification Programs  Specific Claims Guidelines Verification Process  Updates and Changes  Enforcement and Penalties   Consequences  Appeal Process  Policy Updates Contact Information  

Purpose and Scope


This policy establishes guidelines for environmental claims made by sellers on our marketplace to ensure transparency, accuracy, and compliance with applicable regulations while maintaining trust with our customers.

General Principles

  • Truthfulness and Accuracy
  • All environmental claims must be substantiated with verifiable evidence
  • Claims must be specific and unambiguous
  • Sellers must avoid vague, misleading, or exaggerated statements
  • Claims must reflect current environmental impacts and conditions

Clear Documentation Requirements

  • Third-party certifications, if necessary, must be current and verifiable
  • All Test results must be from accredited laboratories
  • Life cycle assessments must follow recognized methodologies
  • Manufacturing processes and material sourcing must be documented

Prohibited Claims

Sellers may not:

  • Make broad, unqualified claims of environmental benefit
  • Use misleading certification symbols or create fake certifications
  • Make comparative claims without specific, substantiated data
  • Claim "100%" recycled content unless verifiable
  • Misrepresent the scope or scale of environmental benefits

Required Disclosures 

Product details must clearly make known:

  • Percentage of recycled/sustainable materials used
  • Energy consumption and emissions data where applicable
  • End-of-life disposal or recycling requirements
  • Geographic limitations of environmental benefits
  • Any conditions that may reduce environmental benefits

Acceptable Certification Programs 

(This may be updated from time to time)

The marketplace accepts the following certifications:

  • Energy Star
  • USDA Organic
  • Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
  • Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
  • Cradle to Cradle
  • Green Seal
  • EcoLogo
  • EPEAT

Specific Claims Guidelines

Biodegradability

  1. Must specify decomposition timeframe
  2. Must detail required conditions
  3. Must disclose any limitations
  4. Must be tested according to accepted standards

Recyclability

  1. Must specify which components are recyclable
  2. Must disclose local availability of recycling facilities
  3. Must provide recycling instructions
  4. Must specify any preparation required

Renewable Materials

  1. Must specify renewable material percentage
  2. Must disclose sourcing methods
  3. Must provide harvesting certifications
  4. Must detail regeneration timeframes

Energy Efficiency

  1. Must provide specific consumption data
  2. Must compare to industry standards
  3. Must detail testing conditions
  4. Must specify any usage limitations

Verification Process 

Initial Review

    1. Submit documentation for all environmental claims
    2. Provide certification documentation
    3. Supply test results and methodologies
    4. Detail manufacturing processes

Ongoing Monitoring

  • Annual review of claims and documentation
  • Random spot checks of products
  • Customer feedback investigation
  • Compliance audits

Updates and Changes 

Material changes must be reported within 30 days

New claims require additional verification

Certification renewals must be submitted promptly

Process changes require review

Enforcement and Penalties  

Non-Compliance Levels

Minor: Unclear or incomplete documentation

Moderate: Unsubstantiated or exaggerated claims

Severe: Fraudulent or deliberately misleading claims

Consequences 

Warning and correction period

Temporary listing suspension

Permanent removal from marketplace

Financial penalties, where applicable

Appeal Process 

Sellers may appeal enforcement actions by:

  1. Submitting additional documentation
  2. Providing third-party verification
  3. Implementing corrective actions
  4. Requesting independent review

Policy Updates

This policy will be reviewed annually, or as needed, and updated to reflect:

  • New environmental standards
  • Regulatory changes
  • Industry best practices
  • Emerging certification programs

Contact Information  

For questions or clarification about this policy, contact:

info@vertilly.com

Last Updated

November 18, 2024

This policy is binding for all sellers listing products with environmental claims on our marketplace. Compliance is mandatory for continued participation in the marketplace.