ESG in 5 Sustainability News - 05-08-2025
- Anthony Walters
- Aug 4
- 2 min read
This week’s ESG roundup covers regulatory action, sustainable innovation, and major investment in clean energy. From Shein’s greenwashing fine in Italy to Meta’s push to reduce embodied carbon in data centres, and HSBC’s high-profile exit from a major climate alliance, we bring you the key developments shaping the ESG landscape in under five minutes.
Shein Fined €1 Million for Greenwashing in Italy.
The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) announced that it has fined global fashion online retailer Shein’s website operator Infinite Styles Services Co €1 million (USD$1.15 million) for greenwashing, after finding that the company used misleading environmental messages or claims in the promotion of its clothing products.
The announcement follows the launch of an investigation last year by AGCM into the company over concerns of misleading advertising claims made on the site regarding the environmental sustainability of Shein branded clothing.
Meta Replaces Steel & Concrete with Wood, to Cut Data Centre Carbon Footprint.
Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp owner Meta announced a new initiative aimed at cutting the embodied carbon footprint of its data centres, piloting the use of mass timber in the construction of the facilities, in place of emissions-intensive materials such as steel and concrete.
Steel and concrete are among the most significant sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with steel manufacturing and cement production accounting for approximately 7% and 8%, respectively, of global carbon emissions, according to the World Economic Forum (WEF).
£5.2 Billion for UK Offshore Wind Project.
Spanish energy and electricity provider Iberdrola and UAE-based clean energy-focused developer Masdar announced today a new agreement to co-invest £5.2 billion in the 1.4 GW East Anglia THREE project, marking the largest offshore wind transaction of the decade.
Located off the Suffolk coast in the UK, East Anglia THREE will be one of the largest offshore wind farms globally, delivering enough clean energy to power 1.3 million British homes.
HSBC Exits Net Zero Banking Alliance.
HSBC has announced that it has decided to withdraw from the Net-Zero Banking Alliance (NZBA), following its North American peers to become the first major UK bank to exit the UN-backed coalition dedicated to advancing global net zero goals through their financing activities.
Despite its departure from the NZBA, however, HSBC reiterated its commitment to pursue its net zero by 2050 goal, saying in a statement “we remain resolute in this long-term ambition and in supporting our customers to finance their transition objectives.
View this week's Market Review for more industry updates here
Author.
Sources.
Shein Fined €1 Million for Greenwashing in Italy, by ESG Today, 05/08/25
Meta Replaces Steel & Concrete with Wood, to Cut Data Centre Carbon Footprint by Emanuela Hawker, ESG Today, 05/08/25
Iberdrola, Masdar to Co-Invest Over $6 Billion in UK Offshore Wind Project, by ESG Today, 10/07/25
HSBC Exits Net Zero Banking Alliance, by ESG Today, 14/07/25
