Qantas Airways faces accusations of greenwashing over claims about its “fly carbon neutral” program, with a formal complaint lodged with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
The complaint, filed by the Environmental Defenders Office on behalf of Climate Integrity, raised concerns about the airline’s promotion of “sustainable aviation fuels” and its carbon offset program, which promises customers they can offset the environmental impact of their flights.
However, experts argue that purchasing carbon credits is not equivalent to achieving zero emissions.
“Using carbon credits cannot turn an unsustainable flight into a sustainable one,” said Derik Broekhoff, senior scientist at the Stockholm Environment Institute.
Climate integrity director Claire Snyder said that Qantas’ marketing materials may downplay the environmental impact of its operations, creating a false sense of progress toward sustainability.
“A Qantas customer choosing the ‘fly carbon neutral’ option for their flight might think that the climate impacts of their trip have been compensated for or significantly reduced,” she continued. “But this is not supported by science.”
Qantas reported emitting 17.6 million tonnes of CO2 globally this year, equivalent to around 4 per cent of Australia’s total annual emissions.
“Qantas is a trusted household name in Australia, and it should not mislead customers and shareholders into thinking Qantas products and services are more sustainable than they are,” Snyder added.
This complaint follows a similar greenwashing ruling against KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in Europe, which led to regulatory action against 20 airlines across the EU.
Climate Integrity calls for the ACCC to step in and similarly protect Australian consumers.
