The Retailer Autumn Edition 2021

Sowhat should you be doing? We suggest that you familiarise yourself with these principles and ensure that your plans for future marketing, branding and labelling take account of them. Ask yourself, as a consumer, would I understand what I am being told? Also, where would I go to find out more information about the product or service that I am thinking of buying? Businesses that consider these issues and make genuine efforts to make such information available to consumers are far less likely to mislead and to gain consumer trust. And remember, tomorrow’s consumer is likely to be even more discern- ing and demanding of information about the environmental impact of products and services, so get ready to provide that now. You can continue to engage with the BRC if you have concerns and queries about how the principles might apply to your business.

What next from the CMA? We are focussing on raising awareness of the principles over the next couple of months. From January 2022 we will start to monitor business compliance with consumer protection law as set out in the principles andwill be ready to take enforcement action against theworst offenders of ‘greenwashing’.

mike coates mike.coates@cma.gov.uk

Principles - Green claims code: making environmental claims - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Green Claims Code - Green Claims Code – Check your environmental claims are genuine (campaign.gov.uk)