Compliance Radar

Who was sanctioned, and for what?

Fines, court rulings and incidents from Europe and North America: 756 cases from 32 jurisdictions, each with an official source and checked against that source before publication. Filter by country, area of law and sector. Click a chart to drill down one level.

9cases from 6 jurisdictions
€35.1mTotal of monetary amounts (3 cases with an amount)
€17.9mLargest single case: DWS Investment Management Americas Inc.
€16.2mMedian per case with an amount

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When?

per quarter, by date of decision
Trend
PeriodCasesTotal
Q3 20231€17.9m
Q4 20230—
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Q2 20241—
Q3 20240—
Q4 20242€16.2m
Q1 20250—
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Q3 20252€1m
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9 cases

23 Oct 2025 TotalEnergies; TotalEnergies Electricité et Gaz de FranceParis Judicial Court: TotalEnergies advertising on climate neutrality misleading FranceMisleading environmental and sustainability claims Order

In an action brought by Greenpeace France, Les Amis de la Terre and Notre Affaire à Tous, the Paris Judicial Court (Tribunal judiciaire de Paris, 34th chamber) found that TotalEnergies had advertised on totalenergies.fr with the goal of ‘carbon neutrality by 2050’ and its role as a player in the energy transition without disclosing that oil and gas production continues to be expanded – a misleading commercial practice. The court ordered the communication to cease, damages to be paid to the associations and the operative part of the judgment to be published on the website (RG 22/02955); claims relating to gas and agrofuels were dismissed.

What organisations can take from it

Net-zero targets may only be advertised to consumers with reference to the actual business strategy.

Relevance to training and awareness

Climate targets in consumer communication

Authority / court
Tribunal judiciaire de Paris (34. Kammer)
Area of law
Environment and sustainability · Misleading environmental and sustainability claims
Legal basis
Art. L121-1 ff. Code de la consommation (Umsetzung der Richtlinie 2005/29/EG)
Action
Order
Status of proceedings
unknown
Sector
Energy and utilities
Employees
10,000 or more
Published
23 Oct 2025

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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26 Aug 2025 Acqua Minerale San Benedetto S.p.A.AGCM: San Benedetto removes ‘CO2 neutral’ claim on Ecogreen bottles ItalyMisleading environmental and sustainability claims Other

Labels, the website and commercials for the Ecogreen line claimed that bottle production caused no greenhouse gas emissions and even had a positive effect on the environment. Following an intervention by Italy's competition and consumer protection authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato, AGCM) (moral suasion, case PS12596), the mineral water producer removed the claim ‘impatto zero CO2’ in mid-July 2025, revised nature motifs and added a QR code linking to sustainability information.

What organisations can take from it

‘Zero emissions’ promises on packaging can hardly be substantiated; it is better to present specific reduction steps transparently.

Relevance to training and awareness

Climate claims on packaging

Authority / court
Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM)
Area of law
Environment and sustainability · Misleading environmental and sustainability claims
Legal basis
Codice del Consumo (unlautere Geschäftspraktiken), Verfahren PS12596
Action
Other
Status of proceedings
final
Sector
Food and agriculture
Mitigating circumstances
Voluntary amendment of all labels and advertising materials following the authority's intervention.
Published
26 Aug 2025

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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4 Aug 2025 Infinite Styles Services Co. Ltd (Shein)AGCM: 1 million EUR fine against Shein for misleading environmental claims ItalyMisleading environmental and sustainability claims €1m

Italy's competition and consumer protection authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato, AGCM) objected to vague and in part false claims about circular design and recyclability, about the ‘green’ evoluSHEIN collection (only a small share of the range) and about emission targets, while emissions rose in 2023/2024. The ultra-fast-fashion model is subject to a heightened duty of care, the authority held; it imposed 1 million EUR (case PS12709).

What organisations can take from it

Communicate climate targets and recycling promises only if they are specific, substantiated and consistent with actual developments.

Relevance to training and awareness

Verifiable sustainability communication in online retail

Authority / court
Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM)
Area of law
Environment and sustainability · Misleading environmental and sustainability claims
Legal basis
Codice del Consumo (unlautere Geschäftspraktiken), Verfahren PS12709
Action
Fine
Status of proceedings
unknown
Sector
Retail and e-commerce
Employees
10,000 or more
Published
4 Aug 2025

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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8 Nov 2024 Invesco Advisers, Inc.Invesco Advisers: 17.5 million USD for inflated ESG integration percentages USAMisleading environmental and sustainability claims €16.2m

From 2020 to 2022, Invesco told clients that 70 to 94 per cent of the parent company's assets under management were ‘ESG integrated’, but counted passive ETFs that did not take ESG into account and had no written definition of ESG integration. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) imposed 17.5 million USD, a censure and a cease-and-desist order.

What organisations can take from it

Sustainability metrics used in sales need a written definition and a traceable calculation.

Relevance to training and awareness

Verifiable metrics in ESG marketing

Authority / court
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Area of law
Environment and sustainability · Misleading environmental and sustainability claims
Legal basis
Investment Advisers Act of 1940
Action
Fine
Status of proceedings
final
Sector
Financial services and insurance
Culpability
intentional
Published
8 Nov 2024

Original amount 17,500,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 8 Nov 2024.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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9 Oct 2024 Campello S.p.A.; Microlino Italia S.r.l.AGCM: providers of small electric cars remove ‘100 % green’ advertising ItalyMisleading environmental and sustainability claims Other

On the websites for the XEV YOYO and Microlino electric vehicles, the companies advertised with ‘100 % sustainable’, ‘100 % Green’, ‘zero emissions’ and ‘zero environmental impact’ without taking into account life-cycle phases or the emissions from electricity generation. Following an intervention by Italy's competition and consumer protection authority (Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato, AGCM) (moral suasion, PS12794/PS12819), the claims were removed.

What organisations can take from it

Even for electric vehicles, absolute claims such as ‘zero emissions’ are misleading if manufacturing and electricity generation are left out.

Relevance to training and awareness

Blanket environmental promises for electric products

Authority / court
Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM)
Area of law
Environment and sustainability · Misleading environmental and sustainability claims
Legal basis
Codice del Consumo (unlautere Geschäftspraktiken), Verfahren PS12794 und PS12819
Action
Other
Status of proceedings
final
Sector
Automotive
Mitigating circumstances
Voluntary removal of the claims following the authority's intervention.
Published
9 Oct 2024

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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27 Jun 2024 BGH: advertising with ‘climate neutral’ only permissible with explanation in the advertisement itself GermanyMisleading environmental and sustainability claims Order

A manufacturer of fruit gums and liquorice (not named in the official press release) advertised in a trade journal that it had produced all its products ‘climate neutral’ since 2021, although this was achieved partly through offsetting. Germany's Federal Court of Justice (Bundesgerichtshof, BGH) prohibited the advertising following an action brought by the Centre for Protection against Unfair Competition (Wettbewerbszentrale): ambiguous environmental terms must be explained in the advertisement itself, since reduction and offsetting are not equivalent.

What organisations can take from it

Companies advertising with ‘climate neutral’ must explain directly in the advertisement whether emissions are avoided or merely offset.

Relevance to training and awareness

Legally compliant environmental and climate claims in advertising

Authority / court
Bundesgerichtshof (I. Zivilsenat)
Area of law
Environment and sustainability · Misleading environmental and sustainability claims
Legal basis
§ 3 Abs. 1, § 5 Abs. 1, § 5a Abs. 1 und 3, § 8 Abs. 1 Satz 1 UWG (Az. I ZR 98/23)
Action
Order
Status of proceedings
final
Sector
Food and agriculture
Published
27 Jun 2024

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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27 Mar 2024 ASOS; Boohoo; George at AsdaCMA: ASOS, Boohoo and George at Asda commit to clear environmental claims United KingdomMisleading environmental and sustainability claims Other

Following an investigation into their fashion environmental claims, the three retailers gave formal undertakings to the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA): no vague terms such as ‘eco’ or ‘responsible’, clear information on recycled and organic content, transparent criteria for green ranges, correct filters and information on labels, and regular reports to the CMA. No breach of law was established.

What organisations can take from it

Sustainability labels in online shops must be specific, verifiable and easy for customers to understand; blanket terms are not sufficient.

Relevance to training and awareness

Wording of environmental claims in marketing and online shops

Authority / court
Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
Area of law
Environment and sustainability · Misleading environmental and sustainability claims
Legal basis
Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 (förmliche Verpflichtungszusagen)
Action
Other
Status of proceedings
final
Sector
Retail and e-commerce
Published
27 Mar 2024

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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20 Mar 2024 Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. (KLM)Amsterdam District Court: KLM advertising on sustainable flying misleading NetherlandsMisleading environmental and sustainability claims Other

In a collective action brought by the Fossielvrij foundation, the Amsterdam District Court (Rechtbank Amsterdam) found that 15 KLM advertising claims were misleading and unlawful: they suggested sustainable flying or that offsetting products actually compensate for the climate impact, although biofuels and reforestation reduce it only marginally. KLM bears the costs of the proceedings; further claims were dismissed (ECLI:NL:RBAMS:2024:1512).

What organisations can take from it

Offsetting and SAF offerings must not create the impression of climate-neutral travel; associations can challenge such claims in court.

Relevance to training and awareness

Climate claims and offsetting offers in customer communication

Authority / court
Rechtbank Amsterdam
Area of law
Environment and sustainability · Misleading environmental and sustainability claims
Legal basis
Wet oneerlijke handelspraktijken (Art. 6:193a ff. BW)
Action
Other
Status of proceedings
unknown
Sector
Transport, logistics and shipping
Employees
10,000 or more
Published
20 Mar 2024

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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25 Sep 2023 DWS Investment Management Americas Inc.DWS Investment Management Americas: 19 million USD for misleading ESG statements USAMisleading environmental and sustainability claims €17.9m

From 2018 until the end of 2021, the Deutsche Bank subsidiary presented ESG as part of its ‘DNA’ but did not implement the ESG integration policies it had promised. It is paying 19 million USD for the ESG misstatements; in separate proceedings over deficiencies in its anti-money laundering programme, a further 6 million USD was added.

What organisations can take from it

ESG marketing statements must be backed by processes that are actually practised and documented; otherwise they become a regulatory risk.

Relevance to training and awareness

Truthful sustainability communication in sales and marketing

Authority / court
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
Area of law
Environment and sustainability · Misleading environmental and sustainability claims
Legal basis
Sections 206(2), 206(4) Investment Advisers Act; Rules 206(4)-7 und 206(4)-8
Action
Fine
Status of proceedings
final
Sector
Financial services and insurance
Published
25 Sep 2023

Original amount 19,000,000 USD, converted at the ECB reference rate of 25 Sep 2023.

Checked against the official source on 25 Sep 2026 · Direct link

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