Greenwashing news and archive

Green Claims Directive: European Commission clarifies withdrawal of proposed law

The Green Claims Directive, also known as the anti-greenwashing law, may not be withdrawn after all. A commission spokesperson clarified that the withdrawal will only happen if a specific recent amendment is maintained. Spokesperson Paula Pinho noted that the amendment in question would bring small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) under the...

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EU Commission plans to withdraw greenwashing law

The EU Commission planned to halt a legislative proposal on minimum standards against misleading environmental advertising claims. A spokesperson for the authority in Brussels said the Commission intended to withdraw the proposal. The Commission later provided written reasons: "The current discussions surrounding the proposal run counter to the...

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Business|Background

Background: The Gore-Tex brand and the tricky business of PFAS functionality

The crackdown on PFAS in functional clothing has been widespread in recent years, particularly as their harm to both the environment and humans becomes more broadly researched. It has forced leaders in the outerwear and sportswear industry to rethink their approach to implementing practical features into their designs, and has seen many facing...

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Green claims: 20 consumer watchdogs write open letter to fashion and textile sector

A total of 20 consumer watchdogs have signed off on a letter calling for the standardisation of requirements for green claims. The letter, which can be read on the website of the International Consumer Protection and Enforcement Network (ICPEN), includes signatories from the consumer watchdogs of the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Turkey, Spain,...

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Communicating about ‘sustainable fashion’ is greenwashing, new chatbot Josie proposes alternative

Antwerp – Sustainability expert Jasmien Wynants and solicitor Judith Bussé have joined forces to combat greenwashing. They are doing so with ‘Josie’, a chatbot that extracts vague or misleading information from your Instagram posts. According to the European Commission, half of what companies write online about sustainability is incorrect. ‘...

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Fashion

New UK legislation puts fashion’s green claims under scrutiny

As of April 6th, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has been granted significantly enhanced enforcement powers under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act. This sweeping legislation represents a crucial shift in consumer protection, equipping the CMA with the ability to impose direct and severe penalties on...

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Gore-Tex parent faces lawsuit over ‘greenwashing’ allegations

WL Gore & Associates, the parent firm of outerwear material brand Gore-Tex, is facing a class-action lawsuit that claims the company “knowingly concealed its ongoing use of environmentally harmful PFAS” for a number of its products. The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington by law firm Hagens Berman...

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17 Brands advised to review practices as CMA outlines compliance guidelines

17 well-known fashion brands have been advised by the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) to review business practices in regards to their green claims. The move has led the UK watchdog to issue a compliance guide based on its already existing Green Claims Code, with it hoping that these further tips can help in levelling the playing field and...

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Fashion|OPINION

Where is the system change in the fashion industry?

While reading the Dutch book ‘De mens is een plofkip’ ('Humans are battery chickens'), in which writer and journalist Teun van de Keuken takes a closer look at the food industry, I was repeatedly reminded of the fashion sector. Van de Keuken argues that it is almost impossible to escape the (ultra) processed food that is constantly being thrust...

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Lululemon accused of greenwashing in class action lawsuit

Lululemon Athletica Inc. is accused of deploying misleading greenwashing tactics to make consumers think that it's more sustainable and environmentally friendly than it really is. According to a class action lawsuit filed in the US District Court of the Southern District of Florida last Friday, the Canadian athleisure brand has been taking...

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Can a 250-million-euro ‘Circularity Fund’ make Shein circular?

It may seem strange indeed to hear ultra-fast fashion giant Shein boasting of circularity measures: The company has launched a new 200 million euros “Circularity Fund” in the EU and the UK plus a further 50 million euros for “broader ESG measures”, planning to invest a total of 250 million euros in circularity over the next five years. However,...

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Can sustainable fashion marketing truly hit the mark of accuracy?

The regulations in the textile industry are approaching like a dark cloud announcing an impending storm. However, many professionals in the sector are unsure about how, when, and through what means they will need to start addressing the requirements that European authorities are primarily emphasizing to improve transparency in the industry....