MSC Cruises Faces Complaint Over Environmental Claims

The environmental advocacy group Ecologists in Action of Catalonia has filed a complaint against MSC Cruises, accusing the company of using deceptive and unlawful advertising practices. The formal complaint was submitted to the Consumer Inspection division of the Catalan Consumer Agency under the Generalitat of Catalonia.

The organization alleges that MSC Cruises' advertising campaigns, promoted across various platforms including their website, falsely claim that the company’s LNG-powered cruise ships produce "zero emissions" and have "zero impact on the environment." Terms such as "eco ship" and "ecological engines" are prominently featured in their marketing, which Ecologists in Action argues are misleading and violate consumer protection laws.

“These statements create the false impression that MSC Cruises operates in a completely non-polluting and even environmentally beneficial manner, which is far from reality,” the group stated.

The complaint emphasizes that MSC Cruises is not adhering to the European Directive on unfair commercial practices. This directive mandates that companies must assess and disclose the full environmental impact of their products throughout their lifecycle, including impacts from the supply chain. MSC’s advertisements reportedly fail to meet these requirements, rendering their claims both deceptive and unlawful.

Phrases like "Eco Ship" and "Eco-friendly motors" were criticized by the group for being ambiguous and giving the illusion of environmental credibility without providing evidence. Ecologists in Action contends that such terms amount to covert advertising, breaching regulations related to consumer rights and truthful marketing practices.

The organization asserts that MSC Cruises has not presented clear and verifiable proof to back up its environmental claims. As a result, they argue, the company’s marketing misleads consumers and violates standards governing competition, consumer rights, and advertising ethics.