One of the UK’s biggest gas boiler manufacturers used by millions of landlords has promised not to ‘greenwash’ its part-hydrogen fuelled boilers.

A Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) study investigated whether Worcester Bosch was misleading shoppers with confusing or inaccurate green claims.

In July 2020 then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak visited the firm's offices and was pictured next to a 'hydrogen-ready' boiler that was also labelled as a 'zero carbon boiler'.

The CMA subsequently looked at the use of labels or text stating that Worcester Bosch’s boilers can run on a blend of 20% hydrogen and natural gas, and whether this could give the impression it was a special feature - despite all boilers in the UK being legally required to operate this way since the mid-1990s.

Years away

The use of hydrogen for home heating in the UK is not currently available and its introduction could potentially be years away.

The boiler manufacturer now can’t claim that the boiler ‘future-proofs’ a consumer’s heating system on account of its ability to operate with a hydrogen blend. One recent advert said: "Future-proof your home heating and be ready for a greener future with the hydrogen-ready Greenstar 4000 boiler from WB. Ask us about an efficient new boiler from WB today!’.

The company has also pledged to change or remove any promotional material that states or gives the impression that consumers will reduce their carbon footprint or achieve an environmental benefit by having a Worcester Bosch boiler because it can run on a blend of up to 20% hydrogen.

The action comes as part of the CMA’s wider work looking at consumer protection issues in the green heating and insulation sector. Last month it published its final advice for businesses marketing green heating and insulation products to help them understand and comply with their existing obligations under consumer law.

Main image credit: Worcester Bosch