Review your environmental claims before the ACCC does.
You worked hard to be more sustainable. Don't let vague wording lead to a regulator's letter. We review the environmental claims we identify on your website against ACCC guidance — so your sustainability story is clearly worded, properly qualified, and easier to stand behind.
Industries named in ACCC sweeps and enforcement
Misleading environmental claims remain a stated ACCC compliance and enforcement priority across every sector.
Get your free Greenwashing Risk Score in under a minute.
Enter your homepage URL. We'll scan it for common words and phrases that may attract ACCC attention — and show you which risk categories they fall into.
Indicative score only · Not legal advice · Reviewed against ACCC Environmental Claims Guidance (Dec 2023) · One free scan
carry legal weight you may not have intended.
The ACCC's 2022 sweep of 247 Australian businesses found 57% had potentially misleading green claims on their websites. (Source: ACCC, March 2023)
Maximum penalty per contravention of Australian Consumer Law — greater of $50M, three times the benefit gained, or 30% of adjusted turnover (in force since Nov 2022)
Of 247 businesses reviewed had potentially misleading green claims (ACCC internet sweep, 2022)
Misleading environmental and sustainability claims have been a stated ACCC compliance and enforcement priority every year from 2022–23 through 2025–26
ASIC greenwashing penalties imposed in 2024 — Active Super, Mercer Super and Vanguard
Is this for you?
If your website uses any of these words or phrases, you're in scope:
The ACCC's 2025–26 enforcement priorities specifically name energy, food, fashion and homewares — but their 2022 internet sweep covered 8 industries. Any business making environmental claims on their website is potentially in scope, regardless of size.
Fashion and apparel
Fabric claims, ethical sourcing, recycled materials
Food and beverage
Packaging claims, farming practices, carbon footprint
Home, beauty and lifestyle
Ingredient claims, recyclable packaging, natural formulations
Good intentions aren't enough anymore.
Well-meaning businesses use words like "sustainable", "eco-friendly", "carbon neutral" every day. Meaning it and saying it correctly are two different things under Australian Consumer Law.
The ACCC isn't just targeting large corporations — they're working through energy, fashion, food, homewares and more. If your website makes environmental claims, you're in scope.
"This priority will include a focus on greenwashing in recognition of the substantial impact of this conduct on consumer trust and engagement."
The ACCC doesn't need intent. They just need a claim they can't verify.
Every day, well-meaning Australian businesses use words like 'sustainable' and 'carbon neutral' on their websites. The ACCC is actively reviewing these claims — and fining businesses whose words don't hold up.
These businesses paid the price.
The ACCC and ASIC have moved from warnings to Federal Court proceedings and multi-million dollar penalties.
Federal Court penalty in ASIC proceedings — ESG fund's investment screens found misleading. (Sept 2024)
"50% Ocean Plastic" packaging and website claims found misleading by the Federal Court in ACCC proceedings. (Penalty orders 14 April 2025)
ASIC action — superannuation fund's ESG investment claims found misleading while it held investments it claimed to exclude. (Aug 2024)
ACCC commenced Federal Court proceedings in 2023; the Court found AGN had made misleading representations about the future supply of renewable gas to households. (Dec 2024)
Sources: ACCC, ASIC, Federal Court of Australia 2024–2025. This information is factual and sourced from public regulatory records.
A clear read of your website, mapped to the ACCC's guidance.
Submit your URL. Pay securely. No intake calls.
We assess the environmental claims we identify on your site against ACCC guidance and current enforcement patterns.
You receive a plain-language PDF report: each flagged claim explained, suggested rewrites, priority action list.
Delivered within 3 business days for the Starter, 5 for the full website.
What's in scope — and what isn't
What we review
- ✓Publicly accessible website pages
- ✓Product pages, About pages, impact or sustainability pages
- ✓Footer claims and navigation labels
- ✓Blog posts and news articles on your site
What we don't cover
- ×Social media profiles or paid advertising
- ×Product packaging or physical labels
- ×Internal documents or investor materials
- ×Legal compliance sign-off or court proceedings
If you need a broader review covering advertising or packaging, contact us to discuss.
Here's what you'll receive.
A plain-language PDF report covering every environmental claim on your website. Here's a sample page:
Sprout Check Website Assessment Report — Sample
Page 4 of 18 · Prepared for yourbusiness.com.au
Claim reviewed
"We use 100% sustainable materials in all our products."
Why this may be problematic
This claim is absolute and unqualified. Under ACCC guidance, absolute claims require robust evidence. The word "sustainable" without further qualification or substantiation may be considered vague and potentially misleading under Australian Consumer Law s.18.
Suggested rewrite
"We're actively working to increase the use of sustainable materials across our product range — currently X% of our materials meet [specific standard]."
Sample only. Actual reports are tailored to your specific website and claims.
We use the ACCC's own guidance as our benchmark.
Based on ACCC guidance
We work from the ACCC's published guidance, not generic “green marketing” advice.
Actionable rewrites
Specific suggested copy changes, not just a list of problems.
Honest about scope
Professional guidance only, not legal advice. We'll flag when a lawyer's eye is needed.
Clear pricing
Two tiers. From 3 days. No surprises.
Choose your assessment.
one-time · delivered in 3 business days
A focused review of your homepage — the single most visible page on your site and the most common starting point for ACCC scrutiny.
- ✓Homepage review only
- ✓Every environmental or sustainability claim flagged
- ✓Plain-language explanation of each concern
- ✓Suggested rewrites for flagged claims
- ✓Priority action list
- ✓PDF delivered to your inbox
one-time · delivered in 5 business days
Up to 25 of your most relevant pages, automatically selected and prioritised.
- ✓Up to 25 pages
- ✓Every claim flagged and explained
- ✓Suggested rewrites for every flagged claim
- ✓Priority action list
- ✓Regulatory context in plain English
- ✓PDF delivered to your inbox
- ✓Note where legal advice is recommended
Custom scope & turnaround
For larger sites that need more than 25 pages assessed, or anything outside the standard scope.
- ✓More than 25 pages
- ✓Custom scope tailored to your site
- ✓Custom turnaround agreed upfront
- ✓Everything in the Full Website assessment
- ✓Direct contact throughout the assessment
How we select your 25 pages. We crawl your site and automatically prioritise the pages most likely to contain environmental claims — sustainability pages, about pages, and product descriptions first. If you have specific pages you'd like included, just let us know when you order. Sites with more than 25 pages should contact us for enterprise pricing.
Not sure which is right for you? Start with the Starter assessment — you can always escalate. Email hello@sproutcheck.com.au with any questions.
Common questions.
The ACCC's 2022 internet sweep reviewed 247 businesses across 8 industries — the majority were small to medium businesses, not large corporations. Size is not a protection.
Why we built this.
Sprout Check was built by a small business owner who understands what it's like to care deeply about sustainability — and to not have a legal team checking every word on your website.
We use a combination of AI-assisted analysis and human review, cross-referenced against the ACCC's published environmental claims guidance (December 2023) and current Australian Consumer Law frameworks, to identify claims that may attract regulatory scrutiny.
We're not lawyers. We're not a regulator. We're a business that's been in your shoes — and we built the tool we wished existed.
Sprout Check assessments are conducted using AI-assisted methodology reviewed against publicly available ACCC guidance. This is not legal advice.
Know when to go further
Sometimes you need more than an assessment.
Sprout Check helps you identify where your claims may attract scrutiny — but there are situations where qualified legal advice is the right next step. Here's how to know when that is:
Our report flags one or more high-risk claims
If your report identifies claims we consider high-risk, we'll say so explicitly. In those cases, we recommend you seek legal advice before making any changes to your website — not after.
Your business operates in a regulated industry
If you're in financial services, superannuation, energy or healthcare, your environmental claims may intersect with additional regulatory frameworks beyond the ACCC. A lawyer who specialises in your industry is worth consulting regardless of your assessment outcome.
You've already received correspondence from the ACCC
If you have received any communication from the ACCC regarding your environmental claims — do not use this service as your response. Contact a qualified competition and consumer law lawyer immediately.
You want certainty, not guidance
Sprout Check gives you a clear starting point. If you need a formal legal opinion or documented compliance sign-off, that requires a lawyer. We're a first step — an important one — but not a substitute for legal counsel when the stakes are high.
Looking for a competition and consumer law solicitor? The Law Society of your state can provide a referral. Search 'competition and consumer law' at lawsociety.com.au (or your state equivalent).
Important: this is not legal advice
We flag environmental claims that may raise greenwashing risk, so businesses can review the evidence behind them and decide whether to update the wording.
Sprout Check is a risk-identification service. We help you understand where your environmental claims may be inconsistent with ACCC guidance — giving you a clear starting point for corrective action.
We are not a legal tool. We do not provide legal advice. We are not a substitute for a qualified lawyer. A Sprout Check assessment does not certify that your website is compliant with Australian Consumer Law or any other legislation.
Think of us as your first line of defence — not your last. We identify where the risks may be. A lawyer helps you manage them.
This service is conducted using AI-assisted analysis reviewed against the ACCC's published environmental claims guidance (December 2023) and current Australian Consumer Law frameworks. If our report identifies significant or high-risk concerns, we strongly recommend seeking qualified legal advice before making any changes to your website.
From the blog
Plain-English guides on ACCC compliance.
Enforcement · 9 min
"It'll be renewable one day": the ACCC case about a promise, not a product
The ACCC's Federal Court case over Australian Gas Networks' 'Love Gas' ads is about a claim made in the future tense. If your marketing says you're 'working toward' something greener, this one matters to you.
Enforcement · 8 min
The ACCC is suing a major burger chain — and it's not about packaging
The Grill'd 'Tree Day Tuesday' Federal Court case shows that promotional and charity claims — not just labels — can trigger ACCC greenwashing action. What happened, and what small businesses should learn from it.
Ecommerce copy · 9 min
You started an online business from home: here's why your product descriptions could get you in trouble
If you sell candles, skincare, clothing or homewares online, words like natural, eco-friendly and sustainable can feel harmless. Here's what Australian home businesses should know before publishing them.
Marketing process · 11 min
How to avoid greenwashing in your marketing: a practical guide for Australian businesses
A step-by-step internal review and approval workflow for environmental claims, built around the ACCC's eight principles. Catch weak claims before they go live — not after a complaint lands.
Compliance · 11 min
What changed for Australian businesses on 1 July 2026 — the 6 things small business owners need to know
Payday super, a higher minimum wage, bigger ASIC fees, expanded AML/CTF obligations, updated ACCC priorities and more all landed on the same day. Here's what small business owners need to act on.
Know the rules · 10 min
Is greenwashing illegal in Australia? The plain answer
There is no standalone "greenwashing offence" in Australian law — but misleading environmental claims routinely breach the Australian Consumer Law, and the penalties are significant. Here's exactly how it works.
Packaging · 10 min
Compostable, biodegradable and 'plastic-free': what Australian packaging laws actually let you say
Compostable, biodegradable and plastic-free are the packaging words consumers most often misread — and the ACCC has warned about them by name. Here's what the standards, the ACL and the ARL actually allow.
Reputation · 9 min
When social media turns on your green claims: how Australian brands get called out — and what to do about it
It's no longer just the ACCC. Consumers, journalists and creators are auditing sustainability language in public. What the research shows, and how to respond without making things worse.
Website copy · 9 min
5 things on your business website that could attract ACCC attention
A plain-English list of the website patterns the ACCC has repeatedly flagged in sweeps, infringement notices and Federal Court cases — and how to fix them.
Consumer trust · 8 min
Why Australian consumers are more sceptical than ever — and what it means for your marketing
Trust in Australian advertising and institutions is at multi-year lows. What the data shows, and how to write marketing that earns belief in 2026.
Website copy · 8 min
Does your About page have a greenwashing problem? Here's how to tell
About, Our Story and Mission pages are where the vaguest sustainability language tends to live. A short audit, mapped to the ACCC's eight principles.
Consumer trust · 8 min
Why 'we care about the planet' is no longer enough — what Australian customers actually expect
Australian consumer research and ACCC enforcement are converging on the same point: vague green language now costs trust as well as risking penalties.
Enforcement · 8 min
Small business, big risk: why the ACCC isn't just targeting large corporations
The ACCC's internet sweep covered 247 businesses across eight sectors — many of them small. Environmental claims have been a stated enforcement priority every year since.
Carbon claims · 9 min
Carbon neutral claims in Australia: what the ACCC expects
How to make a defensible carbon neutral or net zero claim under the ACCC's eight principles — and the most common reasons claims fail.
Packaging · 8 min
Recyclable packaging claims: staying compliant with Australian Consumer Law
Using "recyclable", "widely recycled" or the Australasian Recycling Label without overstating what households can actually do with your pack.
Product copy · 10 min
"Eco-friendly" and "sustainable" product claims: an ACCC checklist
A pre-publish checklist for product copy that uses words like eco-friendly, sustainable, green or planet-friendly — distilled from the ACCC's eight principles.
Your sustainability story deserves to be told with confidence.
Let's make sure every claim on your website is one you can stand behind.
One payment · 3–5 business days · PDF to your inbox · Not legal advice