// Boohoo letter to suppliers warns that they will have to pay non-compliance costs in future
// Fast fashion retailer says those who choose to supply own bags must provide correct details
Online fast fashion giant Boohoo has been charged by HMRC over a lack of certification for its recycled polybag content, Drapers has reported.
In a letter sent to product suppliers on 26 August, Boohoo Group said this charge will be passed on to suppliers if they do not provide full information and asked suppliers to give polybag details and certification of recycled content certification, as well as confirmation of the percentage of recycled content.
Back in April, the UK introduced the Plastic Packaging Tax, meaning that any plastics manufactured in or imported into the UK are subject to the tax, unless evidence is provided to show that the plastics contain at least 30% certified recycled material.
Boohoo is currently facing an investigation by the CMA over greenwashing and wrote to its product suppliers on 1 April, asking those who choose to source polybags locally to ensure that they comply with the requirements detailed above.
READ MORE: Asos, Boohoo and Asda investigated by CMA over ‘greenwashing’
Drapers reported that the fast fashion retailer uses a supplier with 100% recycled material and packaging, which “complies with both our ambition and the new guidance”.
“We communicated all of this to our suppliers but provided them with an option of continuing to use their own suppliers, as long as they could certify that the poly bags they use were at least 50 per cent recycled material, made from LDPE (low density polyethylene) only and a number of other standards”, the group told Drapers.
“To support them in managing this change we have covered the cost of any HMRC charge so far, but to ensure that our suppliers are complying with our UpFront goal: By 2023 all customer garment packaging will be reusable, recyclable or compostable and any plastic used will contain over 50% recycled content, we have been clear that this will become the responsibility of suppliers in the near future.”
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