New labeling rules for certain goods in stores
The environmental movement "Tzalul" has achieved through the court a change in the labeling of products made from plant materials. The District Court in Lod approved a settlement agreement under which five major importers committed to remove claims of rapid biodegradation from packaging. The companies must also affix warnings on remaining stock if it stays on shelves for more than six months.
The environmental movement "Tzalul" achieved justice through the courts, forcing major Israeli importers to abandon misleading claims on the packaging of products made from plant materials. The District Court in Lod approved a settlement agreement, ending the dispute over the labeling of products made from bamboo, sugarcane, and palm leaves. The packaging claimed rapid biodegradation, for which consumers paid seven times more compared to regular tableware. Environmentalists proved that Israeli climatic conditions and waste disposal methods do not allow such materials to decompose naturally. Under the terms of the deal, distributors committed to completely clear packaging of misleading "green" claims. If unsold stock remains on shelves for more than six months, companies must affix warnings that material breakdown is possible only in industrial composters, which are virtually unavailable in most regions of the country. The defendants were five major trading and importing companies. Business representatives rejected the allegations, insisting that importers should not bear responsibility for organizing waste processing in the state.