The Polish competition authority, UOKiK, has initiated investigations into Bolt, Tchibo, and Zara for allegedly misleading consumers with greenwashing claims. The authority's president, Tomasz Chróstny, emphasized the importance of clear and verifiable eco-friendly declarations, warning that companies must provide complete information without omissions.

In the case of Bolt, the allegations focus on how the company communicates the 'zero-emission' status of its vehicles and the type of energy used in its services. The authority suggests that Bolt's marketing may mislead consumers into believing that most of its services are provided by electric vehicles, while in reality, they primarily use combustion engine cars.

Tchibo faces scrutiny for its use of terms like 'eco' and 'sustainable' without clear definitions or criteria for these claims. Some products labeled as 'eco' reportedly contain significant amounts of synthetic materials, raising questions about the validity of their eco-friendly status.

Zara's 'Join Life' initiative, which promotes its environmental efforts, is also under investigation. The authority points out that the vague language used in Zara's marketing may lead consumers to believe that their purchases contribute significantly to sustainability goals, despite the limited scope of these claims.

This investigation is part of a broader effort by UOKiK to combat greenwashing practices in Poland, with previous cases involving other companies like Allegro and DHL. The authority warns consumers to be cautious of vague eco-friendly claims and to seek specific data supporting such declarations.