Asda is being investigated over its George clothing range to see whether it is misleading customers over its eco-friendly claims.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to look into the ‘George for Good’ range to determine whether the supermarket is claiming that its products are more environmentally friendly than they actually are. Fashion giants ASOS and Boohoo are also being investigated for the same reason, over their ‘Responsible Edit’ and ‘Ready for the Future’ ranges respectively.
The CMA warned that the investigation could lead to the retailers being taken to court if it turns out that their eco-friendly claims do not “stack up”. It comes after the CMA said it had received reports that some of the clothes in the ranges fail to meet green criteria, the Liverpool Echo reports.
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Sarah Cardell, the CMA’s interim chief executive, said: "People who want to 'buy green' should be able to do so confident that they aren't being misled. Eco-friendly and sustainable products can play a role in tackling climate change, but only if they are genuine.
“We'll be scrutinising green claims from ASOS, Boohoo and George at Asda to see if they stack up. Should we find these companies are using misleading eco claims, we won't hesitate to take enforcement action - through the courts if necessary,” the exec added.
The CMA also issued a stark warning to other fashion retailers over their claims to being environmentally friendly. "This is just the start of our work in this sector and all fashion companies should take note: look at your own practices and make sure they are in line with the law,” Ms Cardell said.
A spokesperson for Asda said: "We know how important it is that our customers can trust the claims we make about our products, which is why we ensure the statements we make can be supported by industry accreditations. We are ready and willing to answer any questions the CMA have about our George for Good range and welcome further work by the CMA to ensure the sustainability claims made by the fashion industry as a whole are robust and clear."
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