MANUFACTURING
Retailers Fined for Bamboozling Customers by Mislabeling Rayon Products
Four large retailers have been fined $1.3 million for mislabeling apparel and textile products as bamboo when in fact they were made from rayon.
The Federal Trade Commission said that Nordstrom, JCPenney, Bed Bath & Beyond and Backcountry.com had been warned since 2010 that any rayon products falsely mislabeled as bamboo was a violation of the FTC’s textile rules. The government organization sent warning letters to 70 entities advising them to adhere to correct labeling laws or face a fine.
Following those warnings, the FTC in 2013 fined several retailers and manufacturers $1.26 million for not changing their labeling practices. Those businesses were Amazon.com, Macy’s, Sears and its Kmart and Kmart.com subsidiaries, and Leon Max Inc., whose label is Max Studio.
Now, two years later, more fines have been issued after lawsuits were filed against the four retailers. According to the FTC complaint, Nordstrom sold mislabeled products online and at its stores, including a “Gypsy 05 Bamboo Racerback Hi-Lo Dress” and “Degree Six Clothing—The Bamboo Long-Sleeve Tee.” Nordstrom has agreed to pay $360,000 in civil penalties.
Bed Bath & Beyond allegedly mislabeled dozens of textiles as bamboo, including “Aden + Anais Bamboo 3-Pack Muslin Swaddles” and “Bamboo-Blend Napkins.” The retailer has agreed to pay a $500,000 fine.
JCPenney was accused of deceptively promoting products as bamboo, including “Muk Luks 4-pack Men’s Bamboo Socks,” which were falsely advertised as having anti-microbial properties. JCPenney is paying a $290,000 fine.
Online retailer Backcountry.com marketed products as bamboo, such as the men’s “Bridgedale Bamboo Crew Sock,” sometimes with antimicrobial claims that were misleading. Backcountry.com is paying a $150,000 fine.
Fines were determined by product sales and how long the violations went on.
The FTC says that the soft bamboo fabrics out there today for items such as shirts and sheets are really rayon. They are made using toxic chemicals that release pollutants into the air. Even when bamboo is the plant source used to create rayon, no traits of the original plant are left in the finished product. Textiles made from bamboo fiber don’t feel smooth.
The FTC is sending letters to other retailers asking them to check their inventories to ensure proper labeling and advertising of rayon textile products.
