Business-Managed Democracy

“Business-managed democracies are those in which the political and cultural arrangements are managed in the interests of business”

Sharon Beder

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Business-Managed Environment

Australian Green Labels

The only national accreditation in Australia that claims to do this whole product lifecycle analysis is the Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA). It is a private not-for-profit organization and participation by manufacturers is voluntary. However few of its endorsed products are supermarket items. Many are targeted at the construction and commercial office fit-out industries. Moreover because of its lack of resources it has been criticised as not having enough depth of research.

In Australia, the Trade Practices Act is supposed to protect consumers from false or misleading advertising claims, including those about the environmental benefits of a product. However there is no financial penalty for “misleading or deceptive conduct”. All the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) can do is seek a court injunction to stop the conduct.

There is also a voluntary labelling standard called AS 14021 Environmental Labels and Declarations. And there is the Australian Association of National Advertisers code of ethics which states that “Advertising or Marketing Communications shall not exploit community concerns in relation to protecting the environment by presenting or portraying distinctions in products or services advertised in a misleading way or in a way which implies a benefit to the environment which the product or services do not have.” Again this is guidance and is not enforced.