ASOS 'Responsible Edit' removed before greenwashing probe launched - report

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Aug 31, 2022

ASOS removed the ‘Responsible Edit’ section from its website just weeks ahead of an investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) looking into potential ‘greenwashing’ issues, a report has claimed.

 
i News has revealed both the Edit and its related filters were taken down by the online fashion giant ahead of a CMA investigation. Both had disappeared from the ASOS website last month, without any public announcement explaining their disappearance, it said.

In July, the CMA had announced it was targeting fashion labels that might be indulging in 'greenwashing' with the first ones targeted named as ASOS, Boohoo and George at Asda over their potential use of “misleading eco claims”. In March, the body had already said it was preparing to “name and shame” fashion retailers that make sweeping eco-friendly claims.

The watchdog is concerned the brands are “using vague language to market items as environmentally-friendly, and weak criteria to decide if products are sustainable, it said. This may create the impression that clothing collections such as the ‘Responsible Edit’ “are more environmentally friendly than they actually are”, the CMA added.

An unnamed ASOS spokesperson told i News:  “ASOS took the decision to proactively remove the functionality of the Responsible Edit, including filters, from the website in June as we co-operated with the CMA’s review of the fashion retail sector and we informed them of this move.

“We continue to work closely with the CMA as part of its investigation and remain committed to playing our part in making fashion more sustainable.” 

The Edit was launched in 2019 and hailed by ASOS as a “one-stop shop… for environmentally-conscious clothing” and featured 3,700 items at launch. Products were certified as contained recycled materials or sustainable fibres.