Submission Number: 00013 

Received: 10/11/2010 11:10:15 AM
Commenter: James  Howarth
Organization: The Inner Sunset Group, Inc
State: California
Agency: Federal Trade Commission
Initiative: Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims; Project No. P954501
Attachments:
00013-55858.pdf Size = 62 KB
Download Adobe Reader
Submission Text
I am an independent sales rep group owner, and applaud your efforts to clean up the use of 'Green' in the outdoor industry. I see many examples of blatant abuse of Eco-Friendly, and Green still in our industry and really hope the trend of abuse does not continue. I quit a brand called J-41 produced in China by the Vida Group out of New York when the National Sales manager, David Jonah told me that "Who cares if its real or not, the consumer does not care as long as they like the shoes". This conversation came from my questioning of the use of PU in all midsole and outsole parts of the 'Eco-Friendly' products. Also the claim to not use any animal products on the 'Vegan' products was also not true. My agency takes the Green Movement very serious, so we left the brand J-41 in search of legitimate wholesale companies. If Americans are lied to like this example points out, the problem will continue to just get worse while at the same time, disrespecting the work of people in our industry and others who are committed to showing Americans and the rest of the world that personal responsibility is easily within our reach. The environment is not a marketing tool and it should not be treated like a waste basket for companies to trash.