Today’s big topic: Greenwashing cases are piling up and remain unresolved for years
What’s happening?
In Denmark, it is illegal to market products as being green if they truly aren’t or if they aren’t greener than similar products. This is known as greenwashing. But in reality, authorities seem to be doing very little when it comes to greenwashing of food products.
Cases of misleading marketing with green claims are piling up and going unresolved for years when they end up on the desk of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. This is evident from a review of the past five years of cases obtained by Politiken.
The documents reveal that out of 27 cases, only 2 led to a reprimand, while 14 are still being processed by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration – many of them for so long that they can no longer be prosecuted by the authorities.
Why it matters!
In the government’s budget proposal for 2026, it plans to remove a special grant aimed at combating greenwashing. According to Consumer Ombudsman Torben Jensen, this will mean the agency will have to take on fewer cases. The environmental organization Greenpeace fears the consequences:
»We see from history that when the Consumer Ombudsman hasn’t had the resources, cases have been forwarded to the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, where we repeatedly see cases piling up and dying. Ultimately, we could end up in the same situation as before, where there is a free pass for agriculture and major food companies to try to greenwash their products«, says Christian Fromberg, campaign leader for agriculture, nature, and forests.
Still curious? Read the full article here.
In other news
– A new research project has identified four criteria for the perfect holiday
We are in the midst of an accelerating climate crisis. Yet we continue to fly on vacation even though we know that it is one of the most climate-damaging things we can do. This paradox puzzled three researchers at Aarhus University. Over the past three years, they have worked on a research project to investigate whether climate considerations can be incorporated into the ideal vacation. Through a survey, a series of interviews, and focus groups with young adults and middle-aged seniors, the three researchers identified four characteristics of a good vacation.
1. Quality time with family and friends. 2. Plenty of time. 3. Relaxation and enjoyment of life. 4. Experiences and otherness, both in terms of different landscapes, cities, cultures, and people, but also different weather.
Read the full article here.
– New airport is a disaster for Greenland’s tourism
Canceled flights due to fog, or too much ice and snow on the runway. Passengers who had to spend the night at the airport. Aviation fuel that was too cold because there was no garage for the fuel trucks. Challenges have been lining up since Nuuk International Airport opened just over ten months ago and took over as the gateway for overseas flights to and from Greenland. Until then, flights landed at Kangerlussuaq Airport, approximately 300 kilometers north of Nuuk. From there, passengers would continue on with smaller domestic flights.
– The Crown Prince turns 20 today
Today, Denmark’s Crown Prince, Christian, turns 20. The milestone birthday is celebrated privately. In the Kingdom of Denmark, there is no official playbook for how one educates oneself to become the head of state. This was realized by the current Frederik X, his mother Margrethe II, and his grandfather, Frederik IX. And it is also the condition for Denmark’s next monarch, Crown Prince Christian, who is now stepping into his 20’s.
Talk of town: 11 Copenhageners share their most bizarre experiences with a roommate
If you’ve ever lived with a stranger, you know. It can be the perfect match. Or... anything but perfect. Politiken’s journalist Laurits Lauesen Ottesen has interviewed 11 Copenhageners about their most bizarre experiences with a roommate. 22-year-old Martin told him:
»One evening, when I came home to the apartment, there was a homeless man lying on the couch. I asked my roommate what was going on, and he replied that it was someone he had met on his way home from downtown. The man had wet his pants, and my roommate wanted to give him a place to take a warm bath and get a night’s sleep.
The problem was: My roommate had dressed him in my new sweater, which I had received as a birthday gift, and a pair of my new pants...«.
Still curious? Read the full article here.
This newsletter features stories originally published in Danish. AI was used to shorten and translate the articles into English, after which a member of the editorial staff reviewed and refined the content.