Watchdog slams British Gas ad’s ‘zero CO2’ claim
The advertising watchdog has censured a television ad promoting British Gas’s Zero Carbon dual tariff for gas and electricity, for implying it is the greenest domestic energy tariff.
The Adverting Standards Authority has criticised the utility provider for misleading viewers into believing gas supplied by British Gas would not produce carbon emissions.
The ad shows a cartoon blue gas flame falling on the text “CO2”, with a voiceover saying: “Of all the major suppliers in Britain our CO2 emissions for electricity are already the lowest.” The voiceover continues: “And our new dual fuel package is our greenest. With zero carbon.”
The ad, created by CHI & Partners, triggered 14 complaints challenging the “zero carbon” claim.
- Meanwhile, the ASA has upheld complaints against a Ryanair press ad, which ran in Scotland. The ad, which featured a teenage girl in a short tartan skirt, standing in a classroom, attracted 13 complaints saying it appeared to link teenage girls with sexually provocative behaviour. The ASA has ruled the ad was “irresponsible”.
Complaints against a poster campaign for ITV show “Secret Diary of a Call Girl” starring Billie Piper for appearing too near to schools, have not been upheld.