Business ProfileforFrench Cleaners, Inc.

In October 2023, BBB contacted French Cleaners regarding claims in its advertising.

Its website, social media, and online advertising include claims related to environmental benefits, such as: 
"We use non-toxic, organic cleaning fluids which are safer for our customers and the environment."
"We utilize environmentally-friendly cleaning technologies to protect the environment and your garments.  Our team is committed to using gentle and safe chemicals and saving utility costs through innovation and equipment"
"We do expert alterations and dry cleaning with 5 generations of experience, green solutions, and exquisite care for your clothes."
"Cleaning methods comprise both dry and wet cleaning and the company aims to meet standards that are eco-conscious." 
According to the BBB Code of Advertising, advertisers should not make broad, unqualified general environmental benefit claims like green or eco-friendly and must qualify general claims with specific environmental benefits. The benefit should be significant.  Advertisers must possess competent and reliable evidence (often scientific evidence) to support all environmental benefit claims. Qualifications for any claim must be clear, conspicuous and understandable.  Non-toxic claims likely convey that a product, package or service is non-toxic both for humans and for the environment generally. Thus advertisers must either possess competent and reliable scientific evidence that this is the case or clearly and conspicuously qualify the claim to avoid confusion.  BBB requested that the business provide substantiation for these claims but did not receive a response.

Its website includes the claim "Award Winning Quality" as well as the logo for the Green Business Bureau and statement "French Cleaners is a platinum-certified business through the Green Business Bureau."  Its listing at www.weddingwire.com states: "Phil is proud to be the only dry cleaner in Connecticut certified by the Green Business Bureau."   The primary responsibility for truthful and non-deceptive advertising rests with the advertiser. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate any objective claims or offers made before publication or broadcast. Upon request, they should present such substantiation promptly to the advertising medium or BBB.  BBB requested that French Cleaners provide proof of any awards won, current affiliation with Green Business Bureau, and proof that the business is "..the only dry cleaner in Connecticut certified by the Green Business Bureau," but did not receive a reply.