Information on greenwashing - December 2024

Please see attached Annex B containing the number of whistleblowing reports the FCA received relating to greenwashing since the start of 2020.

Please note, we have attempted to identify the information you have requested by searching our whistleblowing records. This search was for records which included the keyword ‘greenwashing’. We have not carried out a manual review to check the details of the cases identified and therefore, we cannot conclusively confirm that each of these cases directly relates to an allegation of greenwashing made by a whistleblower. It is also possible that other instances of greenwashing were reported but the word ‘greenwashing’ was not used in the record.

We have interpreted your request to refer to investigations in which investigators have been formally appointed under any of the relevant subsections of section 168 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. On this basis, we can confirm that we have not opened any responsive enforcement investigations during the time periods stated in the request.

Please note, however, that the FCA takes a range of different actions beyond enforcement sanctions to prevent greenwashing. These may include asking firms to agree to voluntary requirements, or indeed imposing own initiative requirements, and requiring firms which have communicated or approved a potentially misleading advert to withdraw it or change it so that it complies with our requirements.