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What if the CEO asks me about… the options available for a company facing financial difficulties?
The latest government insolvency statistics highlight that the downturn in the UK economy is still taking a significant toll and the number of UK corporate insolvencies in February 2024 remains high (and 17% higher compared to February 2023).
Read moreArresting times: Significant changes to UK corporate criminal liability and corporate transparency
The Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Bill (the Bill) is set to overhaul the existing corporate criminal liability and corporate transparency regimes.
Read moreThe EU Digital Markets Act: a levelling of the playing field?
The Digital Markets Act (the DMA) forms part of the EU’s Digital Services Act package, placing new obligations on “gatekeeper” platforms who offer core platform services to business and end-users established or located in the EU, irrespective of the gatekeepers’ place of establishment, residence, or any national laws applicable to their service.
Read moreDrip pricing, fake reviews and other digital dark arts
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (the Bill) is currently at Report Stage in its journey through Parliament. When it comes into force, we will see a significant enhancement of the UK’s consumer protection regime – with a particular focus on maximising transparency to consumers, to help them find better deals and avoid being ripped off.
Read more"Recommended for you" - Data risks in AI-powered customer solutions
Retailers and consumer brands are increasingly using AI online and in stores. Examples of how the technology could be leveraged include generative AI like ChatGPT, the automation of supply chains or the detection of fraud. Data regulators in the UK and EU are starting to catch up to the use of these technologies and making their positions known.
Read moreNavigating social washing risk – a roadmap
Retailers and consumer brands are increasingly aware of the significant risks associated with “greenwashing”. Those wanting to play in the green space must be able to back up their eco-friendly claims or face the wrath of regulators and consumers. But how many have got to grips with the equivalent business risks of being accused of “social washing”? I suspect significantly fewer. Social washing is the practice of trading off perceived or advertised social credentials which are not reflected in the way the business operates. It’s about putting a black square or #BLM on your social media whilst having no people of colour in any leadership roles. It’s about selling rainbow flag adorned Pride merchandise but letting your trans employees be bullied. Like greenwashing, social washing is about profiting from what you say or project, without backing it up with what you do when no one is watching (or buying). Businesses fail to appreciate this disconnect at their peril, as illustrated beautifully by the Gender Pay Gap bot, set up with this simple mission: “If you tweet about #IWD2023 [International Women’s Day 2023], I’ll retweet your gender pay gap”. In other words, if you tell me yours, I’ll show you yours and you won’t like it.
Read moreLifting the Lid on Retail Diversity and Inclusion: Tackling the Challenges
On 4 July 2023, RPC partnered with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) to host the conference 'Lifting the Lid on Retail Diversity and Inclusion: Tackling the Challenges'.
Read moreA shifting landscape? The outlook for data regulation in 2023
With a relatively new Information Commissioner in the UK and a renewed focus on getting post-Brexit data protection laws through Parliament, attention is turning to the ICO’s priorities and how they fit into this new landscape.
Read moreTransitioning to a net zero economy
The TPT has published a draft disclosure framework and implementation guidance for private sector entities to transition to a net zero economy, making recommendations for companies and financial institutions to develop gold-standard transition plans.
Read moreCSRD: shakeup of the EU's sustainability reporting rules
The EU’s new Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) entered into force on 5 January 2023.
Read moreDeposit Return Scheme: Key considerations for drinks producers and retailers in the UK
Defra has now responded to its consultation on the introduction of a DRS in England, Wales and NI. The DRS will require retailers to charge a small fee on certain drinks containers sold, which consumers can reclaim if they return the container to a designated return point.
Read moreGoing Green – staying on the right side of competition law
Environmental issues are high on the agenda for many consumers and businesses alike. They are also increasingly an area of focus for competition authorities around the world, including the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), who are keen to ensure that competition law concerns do not unnecessarily prevent businesses from collaborating legitimately on environmental sustainability initiatives.
Read moreNew REUL? How will the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) affect UK businesses?
When the Brexit transition period ended, so did the alignment of EU law with UK domestic law.
Read moreCasting your net zero ambitions: eight key steps for retailers
With climate change at the forefront of the ESG agenda, the employment relationship, and the opportunities to engage with the workforce on this subject, are crucial ingredients in the quest to becoming a truly green retailer.
Read moreThe Food, Beverage and Cosmetics Law Review: United Kingdom - Second Edition
RPC is excited to announce that the Second Edition UK chapter of the Food, Beverage and Cosmetics Law Review has been published and is available to download.
Read moreUK set to reform consumer protection legislation and its competitive regime
The UK is set to introduce a wide array of changes to its consumer protection legislation and competition regime. The focus of the changes revolves around giving greater protection to consumers over subscription traps, tackling fake reviews and improving enforcement. The latter is likely to bring in GDPR/competition law-level fines for breaches of consumer protection legislation or non-compliance with the CMA's investigations or remedies, with maximum fines of up to 10% of global annual turnover.
Read moreWhere to next for Buy Now Pay Later?
On Monday 20 June 2022, HM Treasury responded to its consultation on proposals to extend regulation to unregulated Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) products. This consultation closed in January 2022. The Treasury's response confirmed the scope of regulation will cover BNPL products and short-term interest free credit (STIFC) provided by third-party lenders.
Read moreExtended producer responsibility for packaging: How to prepare
In the Spring 2022 edition of Retail Compass, we reported on the Government's consultation on regulations covering extended producer responsibility (EPR) which places the financial burden of dealing with packaging once it becomes waste on producers as opposed to taxpayers.
Read moreIt's a supermarket sweep as HFSS products face sweeping promotion and placement restrictions
In an attempt to tackle obesity in the UK, in particular childhood obesity, a swathe of restrictions on the placement and promotion of HFSS products in-store and online will be introduced in phases from October 2022 to January 2024.
Read moreOnline Sales Tax: the right way forward?
On 25 February 2022, HM Treasury launched a consultation exploring the possible introduction of an online sales tax (OST) to address the imbalance resulting from the higher business rates applying to in store retailers, compared to online businesses. The consultation closed on 20 May 2022.
Read moreGreenwashing: UK regulators set their sights on misleading green claims with an increasing focus on sectors such as fashion retail and F&D
UK consumer regulators, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), are ramping up their enforcement of green claims to protect consumers from 'greenwashing'
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