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NLJ this week: Risky times for companies accused of greenwashing

15 November 2024
Issue: 8094 / Categories: Legal News , Environment , Climate change litigation
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Be on guard against ‘greenwashing’ as tough regulations are now in place. Moreover, the latest guidance available suggests a low threshold for culpability. In this week’s NLJ, Paige Coulter, associate at Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan UK, with input from Julianne Hughes-Jennett, partner, sets out the risks involved and predicts a rise in litigation under the Companies Act 2006 and other legislation concerning allegations of greenwashing (publishing misleading information about the environmental or sustainability characteristics of a good, service or business).

Coulter and Hughes-Jennett write that guidance issued in September by the Competition and Markets ‘highlights in particular the risks of brevity in advertising’. 

They advise companies to avoid making any claims that could be viewed as overly broad, vague or ambiguous, writing: ‘From the regulator’s perspective, being vague can be tantamount to being misleading.’ 

MOVERS & SHAKERS

National Pro Bono Centre—Esther McConnell & Sarah Oliver Scemla

National Pro Bono Centre—Esther McConnell & Sarah Oliver Scemla

Charity strengthens leadership as national Pro Bono Week takes place

Michelman Robinson—Akshay Sewlikar

Michelman Robinson—Akshay Sewlikar

Dual-qualified partner joins London disputes practice

McDermott Will & Schulte—Karen Butler

McDermott Will & Schulte—Karen Butler

Transactions practice welcomes partner in London office

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