Tag: CMA

CMA secures landmark changes from ASOS, Boohoo and Asda

Stuart Mitchell

Following CMA action, millions of consumers can now expect to see accurate and clear green claims when shopping for fashion items with ASOS, Boohoo and George at Asda. The undertakings secured by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) commit ASOS, Boohoo and George at Asda – which together make over £4.4 billion annually from UK fashion sales alone – to change the way they display, describe, and promote their green credentials, meaning millions of customers can expect to see clear and accurate green claims. The move comes after the CMA…

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Harmful online design encourages consumers to hand over personal information

Stuart Mitchell

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) and Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) are calling for businesses to stop using harmful website designs that can trick consumers into giving up more of their personal data than they would like. Practices include overly complicated privacy controls, default settings that give less control over personal information and bundling privacy choices together in ways that push consumers to share more data than they would otherwise wish to do. Where consumers lack effective control over how their data is collected and used, this can harm consumers…

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CMA to scrutinise ‘green’ claims in sales of household essentials

Stuart Mitchell

The CMA will examine the accuracy of ‘green’ claims made about household essentials – such as food, drink, and toiletries – to make sure shoppers are not being misled. The move is an expansion of ongoing work by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) into ‘greenwashing’, which seeks to get to the bottom of whether products and services that claim to be green or eco-friendly are being marketed to shoppers accurately. The CMA’s review will examine a wide range of products known as ‘fast-moving consumer goods’ (FMCG). These are essential…

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ASOS, Boohoo and Asda investigated over fashion ‘green’ claims

Stuart Mitchell

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will be scrutinising eco-friendly and sustainability claims made by ASOS, Boohoo and George at Asda about their fashion products, including clothing, footwear, and accessories. The move comes as part of its ongoing investigation into potential greenwashing and follows concerns around the way the firms’ products are being marketed to customers as eco-friendly. In January this year, the CMA turned its eye to the fashion sector, where an estimated £54 billion is spent by consumers annually, and its initial review identified concerns around potentially misleading…

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‘Green’ claims: CMA sets out the dos and don’ts for businesses

Stuart Mitchell

Last year, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced that it was investigating the impact of green marketing on consumers, in line with its annual plan commitment. As part of this, the CMA recently led on an analysis of websites – alongside other global authorities – which found that 40% of green claims made online could be misleading. The CMA is now seeking views on draft guidance for businesses about ‘green’ claims. This is based on a careful review of how these claims are being made and how people respond…

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