Himalaya Wellness Company - Himalaya

Recommendation: Upheld | Medium: General Public

20. In view of these comprehensive guidelines regarding environmental / green claims, I have to examine the Claim as to whether it satisfies the conditions laid down in the Guidelines more particularly Guideline 3. 21. The ASCI Guidelines for Advertisements Making Environmental/ Green Claims defines environmental claims/green claims as any assertion that a product in whole or in part confers environmental benefits. The guidelines suggested that the product or packaging has a neutral or positive impact on the environment, it is less harmful than competing products or delivers specific environmental benefits. In other words, the Code stipulates that absolute terms viz. environmental friendly or eco-friendly, sustainable or planet friendly would convey to the consumer an impression of environmental advantage. So, the Claimant must substantiate by rigorous data and/or third party accreditations. Guideline 3 further requires that the general environmental claim must be based on the “full life cycle” of a product. 22. The Company in this regard explained (i) how they source their raw material. The Company explained that the main raw material in the product is neem leaves. The Company further explained that the leaves are sourced from farmers in Karnataka. The Company stated that a farmer’s co-operative is engaged for sustainable supply of neem leaves. It is said that they procure only 30% foliage per tree and a tree must be at least 5 years old. The Company further mentioned that neem trees are drought resistant and helps prevent soil erosion. There are further uses of neem leaves and seeds in producing the natural pesticides and fertilizers. It is thus clear that cultivation of neem trees in rotation would be beneficial to the environment. The Company mentioned that it has undertaken large scale biodiversity restoration which includes plantation of over 10,00,000 trees in economically sensitive regions such as the western ghats. In view of this, the Company is trying to explain how raw material sourcing is an eco-friendly practice. The Company then explained how the product in question is manufactured. It involves a cold process in which ingredients are blended at room temperature and no heating is required. This practice reduces greenhouse gas emission. The Company asserts that this process is documented in the Master Formula Record and validated by life cycle assessment which achieves 20% deduction in energy related emission. The Company stated that its manufacturing process is certified under ISO 14001:2004 for environmental management. The third point in this regard is packaging about which I have already discussed above as to how all packaging components are recyclable. 23. I sought explanation from the Company through ASCI as to how effective is the distribution of the product so as to examine whether the distribution part of the products lifecycle is also in consonance with Guideline 3. In response to this query, the company explained that the Company is still trying to study the relevant data in respect of distribution of the product. The Company said “we are activea 24. In my view, the Company is not certain and sure about the third part of the products lifecycle i.e., transportation and distribution of the product in question. I am told that there is no third party who can examine a product’s lifecycle when such a product makes a claim that it is planet friendly and good for the planet. On the other hand, the Company tried to submit an explanation as to how the company is trying to achieve its goal in the product’s lifecycle to the extent of transportation and distribution, but this explanation is not satisfactory. 25. This explanation in my view is not sufficient to explain the full life cycle of the product. The assertions about the product mentioned above are generally the company's submission. I am not convinced about the Company’s explanation and hold that it is not sufficient to hold that they justified the claim about this product that it is ”Planet friendly,” and “Good for the planet.” The Company can be advised not to use these claims in the advertisement.