September 30, 2025
Australians are misled and confused when buying large appliances, with 84% falling for vague green claims that cost households billions.
As part of a grant-funded project supported by Energy Consumers Australia, this report explores:
39% of appliance stores displayed green claims at point of sale
32% of sales assistants relied on vague green claims when selling appliances
84% of Australians are misled by green claims – and willing to pay 10% more
want a repairability score
want a standardised durability rating
want labels to state if an appliance can be repaired with readily available parts
want manufacturers to disclose the expected lifespan of an appliance
Australians are pushed to choose appliance replacement over repair
Limited repair culture, especially in recent decades
Many don’t know their consumer rights under Australian Consumer Law
This research highlights the need for clearer product information, improved access to affordable repair options for Australians, and more robust Australian protections. The report’s 13 detailed recommendations are summarised below by themes, with full recommendations available in the report.
For Industry
CPRC welcomes the opportunity to work further on this issue with government, regulators, policy makers, academics and the residential parks sector.
If you are in one of the above groups and would like a one-on-one briefing for your organisation, contact our team today.
This project was funded by Energy Consumers Australia Limited (www.energyconsumersaustralia.com.au) as part of its grants process for consumer advocacy projects and research projects for the benefit of consumers of electricity and natural gas. The views expressed in this document do not necessarily reflect the views of Energy Consumers Australia.
December 19, 2022
This report explores the volume and types of green claims consumers see across social and mainstream media, and packaging and promotional material. It seeks to understand what type of green claims influences consumers and how often consumers act on green claims. It also identifies factors that influence consumers trust of green claims and what happens if consumers find out a business has engaged in greenwashing.
December 01, 2023
Green claims are everywhere, even on social media. But how easy is it for consumers to tell the difference between a genuine environmental claim and a meaningless one? CPRC, in partnership with ADM+S, has analysed over 20,000 impressions of more than 8,000 Facebook ads with green claims.
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