Sprout Check · Blog

Guides for making environmental claims you can stand behind.

Plain-English explainers for Australian businesses, aligned to the ACCC's December 2023 environmental claims guidance and current Australian Consumer Law. Every claim we make is cited to a primary source.

Editorial paper-cut illustration of a gas flame beside a leaf sapling and trees in forest green and cream.

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.

9 August 2026

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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.

19 July 2026

Editorial paper-cut illustration of a home ecommerce workspace with a laptop, candle, skincare products, folded clothes and shipping boxes in forest green and cream.

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.

17 July 2026

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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.

8 July 2026

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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.

6 July 2026

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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.

5 July 2026

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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.

3 July 2026

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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.

3 July 2026

Editorial paper-cut illustration of a magnifying glass over a browser window with small warning flags and a leaf, in forest green and cream.

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.

2 July 2026

Editorial paper-cut illustration of a magnifying glass over an advertising poster with a small leaf, in forest green and cream.

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.

1 July 2026

Editorial paper-cut illustration of a magnifying glass over an About webpage with small leaves, in forest green and cream.

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.

29 June 2026

Editorial paper-cut illustration of a speech bubble containing a leaf in forest green and cream tones.

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.

29 June 2026

Editorial paper-cut illustration of a small storefront next to an official document with a stamp, in forest green and cream.

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.

29 June 2026

Minimalist editorial illustration of a cloud and small trees in forest green and cream, representing carbon neutral claims.

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.

26 June 2026

Editorial paper-cut illustration of recyclable packaging shapes and a recycling arrow in forest green and cream.

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.

26 June 2026

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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.

26 June 2026

Articles on this site are general guidance only. They are not legal advice and do not create a lawyer–client relationship.