Damages claim against Bremworth dropped
GODFREY Hirst has abandoned its claim for damages against New Zealand carpet maker Bremworth and agreed to provide details of its own advertising campaigns after acknowledging it had not provided all documents relevant to the case.
Godfrey Hirst is owned by the world’s largest flooring company Mohawk Industries, which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and has annual revenue of more than $US11.2 billion ($NZ17.8 billion).
It brought a case against Bremworth saying the New Zealand company’s claims about being ‘‘better for the environment’’ and that a switch from synthetics to all wool carpets was ‘‘changing for good’’ were misleading.
In 2020, Bremworth adopted a new strategy which saw it shift to 100% New Zealand wool fibres for the production of wool carpets.
It also reduced its own consumption of imported plastic raw materials by about 2500 tonnes a year.
Godfrey Hirst made similar claims, including that it prided itself on making the most environmentally friendly carpet on the planet.
As part of the legal process, Bremworth’s counsel requested that Godfrey Hirst provide copies of its own advertising along with details of its engagement with the Commerce Commission prior to bringing its claim (the commission took no enforcement action) and what Godfrey Hirst had been communicating to the industry.
At the hearing, Godfrey Hirst acknowledged it had failed to provide all of its relevant advertising.
Through its legal counsel, Godfrey Hirst said it would be providing the advertising at a future date — however, the company would be dropping its damages claim against Bremworth.
In a statement, Bremworth chief executive Greg Smith said the company stood by by its ‘‘Let’s Go Good Together’’ campaign which did not in any way mislead New Zealand consumers.
He believed wool carpets were not only the best for design and performance on the floor — wool fibre was also New Zealandgrown, natural, biodegradable and renewable.