Record numbers of complaints have been levelled at major businesses who "severely exaggerate" their environmental credentials, the advertising watchdog will say next week.

Airlines, oil companies and car manufacturers have all been censured for adopting the practice known as "greenwash" to cash in on consumers' growing ecological concerns.

In 2007 the number of environment-related complaints more than doubled from fewer than 150 in 2006 to well over 300, according to the Advertising Standards Authority which is due to publish its annual report on Wednesday.

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Lord Smith of Finsbury, chairman of the ASA, said it was one of the fastest-growing areas of complaint and now formed a significant part of the watchdog's role.

"Because environmental issues - climate change in particular - are coming very strongly to the top of the political agenda, a lot of companies are thinking 'This is clearly a matter of public concern - let's see if it will help us sell our products'," he said in an interview with The Telegraph.

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