Just what does “recyclable” and “recycled content” mean? The Federal Trade Commission is in the process of re-deciding that question. They’ve used a set of definitions since 1998 and are in the process of revising their ‘Green Guides’ — the guidelines the agency uses to decide whether marketing claims regarding green products, as well as other consumer issues relating to environmentalism.

As of the 1998 decision, the definition of ‘recyclable’ included the reuse, reconditioning or remanufacturing of products in whole or in part. The definition of ‘recycled content’ included products and packages that contained some materials that had been reused, reconditioned or remanufactured. Organizations such as the Glass Packaging Institute — the GPI represents members of the glass industry — are specifically requesting that the FTC clarify the definitions of these two terms during the Green Guide review process. The GPI is citing a higher expectation on the part of consumers for just what products qualify as ‘recyclable’ and the organization feels that the use of the term for a large number of products downplays the fact that glass is “endlessly reusable and recyclable,” unlike most products bearing the ‘recyclable’ label.

The FTC has barely begun the review process and is actively soliciting comments on the general principles that they have so far outlined for environmental marketing — just like the one that the GPI has submitted. They’ve actually started the review process a year early (earlier decisions set the review date in 2009) because of the prevalence of concerns about green marketing these days. Depending on how extensively the Green Guides change, marketing and advertising professionals may have to thoroughly revise their copy: it’s possible that many ads claiming that certain products claiming great environmental advantages for buyers may be considered false advertising under new guidelines.

But how far will the FTC change the guidelines? I don’t know if they’ll go as far as some commenters want — will they really limit the use of the word ‘recyclable’ to glass products as the GPI is asking? I don’t think so, but I’m not in on the decision making process. Do you think they should implement extreme changes in environmental marketing regulations? Are there really that many instances of consumers being effectively deceived by marketing claims about the green nature of a given product? It looks like the FTC will be letting us know soon.

The current Green Guides, or ‘Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims’ as they are officially known, are available online on the FTC website.