The environmental organization Ecologists in Action of Catalonia has lodged a formal complaint against MSC Cruises, citing allegations of misleading and unlawful advertising practices.
The complaint has been directed to the Consumer Inspection division of the Catalan Consumer Agency under the Generalitat of Catalonia.
Ecologists in Action asserts that MSC has made misleading statements in its advertising campaigns, which are disseminated through various media channels and the company's website. These statements claim that MSC’s LNG-powered ships have "zero emissions" and "zero impact on the environment," and use terminology such as "eco ship" and "ecological engines."
The organization contends that these assertions are not only deceptive but also contravene consumer protection laws.
The complaint emphasizes that such marketing communications can lead consumers to mistakenly perceive MSC as entirely non-polluting and even environmentally beneficial, a characterization that does not align with the actual impact of the company’s operations.
Furthermore, the complaint points out MSC's non-compliance with the European Directive on unfair commercial practices, which mandates that companies assess the environmental consequences of their products throughout their entire lifecycle, including the supply chain.
The organization's position is that MSC’s advertising fails to meet these criteria, rendering its environmental claims misleading and potentially illegal.
Terms such as "Eco Ship" and "Eco-friendly motors" are critiqued for their lack of specificity and for presenting an impression of objectivity without supporting evidence. Ecologists in Action argues that such terminology constitutes covert advertising and infringes upon regulations regarding consumer protection and advertising standards. The organization maintains that MSC Cruises has not provided clear and verifiable evidence to substantiate its environmental claims, as is required by consumer and advertising regulations. They assert that these practices mislead consumers and breach rules concerning competition, consumer rights, and advertising integrity.