Decathlon and H&M will now inform consumers better about sustainability
Sports store chain Decathlon and fashion chain H&M agree to adjust or stop using sustainability claims on their clothing and/or websites. They promise to inform consumers more clearly in order to avoid the risk of being misled about sustainability. In addition, they donate 400,000 euros and 500,000 euros respectively to various sustainable causes to compensate for their unclear and insufficiently substantiated sustainability claims. They promised this after an investigation by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers & Markets (ACM). ACM therefore does not impose any sanctions.
Cateautje Hijmans van den Bergh, board member of ACM: 'Consumers who want to make sustainable choices must be able to trust that the claims that companies make on their products or website are correct. We are pleased that the companies recognize that they should have communicated more clearly about the sustainability of their products. And that they adjust various sustainability claims and their substantiation. They are taking measures to better inform their customers in the future. We appreciate that the companies also donate a significant amount to sustainable causes as compensation for the vague sustainability claims. The donations are to independent organizations that contribute to sustainability and clothing.'