22 associations filed complaints against airlines for misleading commercial practices. François Carlier, general delegate of CLCV, denounces Thursday on franceinfo supplements proposed for “green fuel” which “does not exist for the moment in the air”.
“Companies make consumers believe that they will finally balance their carbon footprint”, denounced Thursday, June 22 on franceinfo François Carlier, general delegate for Consumption, Housing and Living Environment (CLCV). The consumer defense association is one of 22 associations from 18 countries, members of the European Bureau of Consumers’ Unions (BEUC), which have filed a complaint with the European Commission against 17 airlines, including Air France-KLM, for greenwashing and deceptive marketing practices towards consumers.
“Air transport offers supplements which can be very high” for “green fuel” Who “does not exist for the moment in the air”, explains François Carlier. In reality, these supplements finance “research and development” on sustainable fuel. A practice “doubtful”he believes.
franceinfo: Why did you file a complaint?
Francois Carlier: Air transport does not content itself with saying our activity is green, our activity is ecological, it is already a problem in itself when it comes to aviation, but it proposes on plane tickets to pay a green supplement which rewards an ecological commitment. This supplement can be at quite high amounts and comes to support a practice which, in reality, is still quite dubious, it is sustainable fuel. Sustainable fuel, in reality, is a fuel that currently does not exist in the air sector. It is in the process of research and development. When it does exist, it will be a small amount. Air transport offers supplements which can be very high.
“On a Paris-New York round trip for 1,000 euros in July for a ticket, you can take a green supplement at 31 euros, but also at 156 euros, but also at 623 euros. The person will really have the impression of completely canceling the CO2 impact of its journey. This sustainable fuel is really not credible.”
François Carlier, General Delegate of CLCVon franceinfo
Is it not possible to pay to reduce your carbon footprint?
Exactly. In fact, the companies make the consumer believe that he will finally balance his carbon footprint when this is not the case. It will simply bring money to the airline to develop research and development. Research and development is a good thing, but it’s not the same as asking for money to really make it green consumption. When you buy an organic tomato, it’s really a production according to organic specifications. There, it’s just money that we bring to the airline mainly for research and development.
Are you also going to file a complaint against Emmanuel Macron who was the VRP of the green plane at the Paris Air Show?
Thinking about the green plane is one thing, planning from an industrial point of view, from a business point of view, is one thing, but From the moment it gets into the consumer’s commercial space, it really poses a problem. The question arises of deceptive commercial practice. And that’s why we go to the control body of the European Commission.