Maxi fine of the GLS Antitrustust for “Ambigue Green Policies”

The Competition and Market Authority has imposed in solids to the General Logistics Systems BV companies, head of the GLS Group in Europe, General Logistics Systems Italy and General Logistics Systems Enterprise one penalty of 8 million euros. The antitrust in a note let it know.

The authority has in fact ascertained that “The environmental sustainability initiative ‘Climate Protect’ with whom GLS – an important and well -known group – built its own Green image it was organized, financed and communicated without transparency the rigor and diligence required for operators of a very polluting sector, such as that of the shipment, transport and delivery of goods “, reads the note.

“Taking into account that the growing awareness of environmental problems influences the purchase behaviors and the reputation of companies in an increasingly decisive way compared to their competitors”, explains the Antitrust, “has been ascertained that, as part of the environmental sustainability program Made by General Logistics Systems BV, the three companies have used ambiguous environmental declarations and/or presented in a non -clear, specific, accurate, unequivocal and verifiable way on the General Logistics Systems Italy website “.

It also emerged that “to customers subscribed to the services of General Logistics Systems Enterprise was forced to join this program and to pay an economic contribution so as to obtain a certificate, not requested, certifying the CO2 emissions compensation relating to their respective shipments “, continues the note. This contribution” has been defined regardless of a prior verification of the costs attributable to the ‘Climate Protect’ program, exempting large customers from payment and suggesting that the group company themselves would have contributed in significant way to its funding “.

Instead, it turned out that “the companies of the GLS Group, in addition to having poured all the economic charges related to the program on its subscribers and on the companies of shipments affiliated to the general logistics Systems Italy network, have collected greater contributions of the costs incurred to implement the Program, “underlines AGCM.

“In addition, the communications sent to subscribers and affiliated companies and certifications on the compensation of the CO2 emissions Released to customers and businesses for their shipments were deceptive, ambiguous and/or untruthful “.

The authority thus ascertained that these conduct integrate one “incorrect commercial practice” in violation of the consumer code.