Online retailer Zalando commits to remove misleading environmental claims

Online German retail firm Zalando has committed to removing misleading sustainability flags and environmental icons displayed next to products offered on its platform, following dialogue with the European Commission and national consumer authorities.

The European Commission said Zalando has also committed to no longer using the term ‘sustainability’, or other unjustified terms indicating an environmental and/or ethical benefit. Zalando will provide clear information about the specific product; for example, a percentage figure of how much recycled material is used.

Zalando will provide clear and specific information on the product’s environmental and/or ethical benefit at the product detail page and ensure that its environmental claims are based on aspects that are significant for the environment.

The European Commission said Zalando will submit a report on the implementation of the commitments. Based on this report, the Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) will assess how Zalando implemented the commitments, and where necessary, enforce compliance; for example, by imposing fines or removing content. The CPC is a network of authorities responsible for the enforcement of EU consumer protection laws.

In a statement, Zalando said: “After more than a year of intense work on our customer experience and close dialogue with the European Commission, we are pleased to have reached a mutual agreement: our proposals to improve the communication of sustainability-related information to customers have been accepted and the proceedings against us have been discontinued, subject to implementation of agreed changes.”

It added: “As a number of textiles-specific legislations will be developed over the next few years, we encourage EU policymakers to establish a consistent regulatory framework that will enhance not only consumer trust but also consumer engagement, while providing legal certainty for companies. In the meantime, the outcome of our mutual agreement with the European Commission is a first step in providing clarity to the industry on what a compliant sustainability experience could look like. In this context, we hope that the European Commission and the CPC network will seek to apply the rules fairly, with the idea of ensuring a level playing field in our sector.”