[Re: If every mistake resu lts in a boycott, firms will stop publishing green promises, Nov 10] It's an interesting idea, that cancel culture has had an impact on companies now hesitant to say when they are actually doing a good thing. But I do think boycotts can have a powerful effect, because if people stop using a company or a firm it has a real impact on their bottom line, it makes companies take their reputation seriously. Jhanvi Gudka used the example of HSBC, who had their claims of taking net zero seriously rebuffed as a result of their investments into polluters.

But have people really stopped using HSBC? It remains one of the largest high street banks in the UK, if not the world. And long before that, they faced questions of their ties to the Communist Party in China.

If companies are truly so afraid of publishing their initiatives for fear of falling foul of the public mood, then they will also not be able to capitalise on the goodwill of "doing good". For many, this is the underlying driver in many of initiatives.

Much ink has been spilled about Gen Z's desire for "purpose" in their lives and work, so if they don't make public their plans, they won't draw a new pool of customers.

I don't think the risk of boycott outweighs the potential good. Nick Tycorth

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