Decathlon and H&M must explain ‘conscious’ products, says watchdog

Photo: Erik1980 via Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Erik1980 via Wikimedia Commons

Sporting goods retailer Decathlon and fashion chain H&M have not been providing enough information about the sustainability of their products but will not be sanctioned, the Dutch consumer and markets authority ACM has said.

The two chains had been using labels such as ‘eco design’ and ‘conscious’ but failed to explain what that this meant in practice, the watchdog found.

The ACM decided against sanctions because both companies promised to adapt or no longer use unexplained sustainability claims and also offered to pay €400,000 and €500,000 respectively to independent organisations working towards sustainable goals.

‘Consumers should be confident sustainability claims have a basis in fact, or there is a danger they are being misled,]’ ACM board member Cateautje Hijmans van den Bergh said.

The ACM says it will be checking up on the two companies for the next two years.

Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation