UNITED NATION'S AWARD WINNER INSTYLE'S FEDERAL COURT CASE SETTLEMENT WITH GECA, ENVIRONMENTAL ASSURANCE AND PETAR JOHNSON

Instyle is pleased to announce that it has settled its proceedings against Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA), Good Environmental Choice Services Pty Ltd t/as Environmental Assurance and Petar Johnson (aka Petar Ivanovski / aka Petar Johnson Ivanoski).

In June 2009 Instyle commenced its Federal Court case against GECA, GECS and Johnson alleging they had each engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct and unconscionable conduct.

On 26 November 2012 and with the consent of all parties, the Federal Court of Australia made orders to end the proceedings. Refer accompanying Federal Court consent orders.

The Federal Court consent orders compel GECA, GECS and Johnson to publish a media release in which Environmental Assurance fully and unequivocally retracts statements which it made about Instyle and about textiles that could be used to upholster GECA certified furniture in market advisories which it issued in September 2009.

The media release also makes clear that non-GECA approved textiles can be used to upholster GECA furniture and that the suppliers GECA licence can be relied upon as evidence that the remainder of the furniture (ie the components other than the textile) is GECA certified. Refer accompanying media release.

The consent orders also require GECA to issue a white furniture licence either as a separate licence or as an amended licence to any supplier who has had their upholstered furniture certified by GECA inclusive of the textile.

GECA must do this within 42 days after receiving a request from the supplier and at no charge to the supplier. Instyle recommends to suppliers who do not currently have a white furniture licence that they apply for a white furniture licence as soon as practicable.

Further each of GECA, GECS and Johnson have also given an undertaking to Instyle and to the Federal Court of Australia that each will not before 25 November 2014 make any statement in writing or orally which is inconsistent with any of the consent orders or with any of the statements in the media release.

If you read or hear a statement made by or on behalf of any of GECA, GECS or Johnson which you believe does or may constitute a breach of the undertaking then please notify the particulars to Instyle immediately.

Instyle wishes to thank its many friends in the industry that provided evidence and support for Instyle's Federal Court case throughout its duration.

Background

Instyle is a leading supplier of design-driven, high-quality textiles, leathers, vinyls and wall finishes for interiors, including office, hospitality, healthcare, public building, education, public space, transport and residential interiors.

Instyle is committed to the environment and to delivering real environmental change. Instyle has won several high-profile sustainability awards including the following:

2011 FINALIST Victorian Premier's Sustainability Awards - Product or Services Award

2011 WINNER NSW Government Green Globe Award - Small Business Sustainability

2010 WINNER United Nation's World Environment Day Award - Environmental Best Practice Program

2010 WINNER NSW Government Green Globe Award - Small Business Sustainability

2009 WINNER NSW Government Green Globe Award - Business Sustainability

2009 FINALIST United Nation's World Environment Day Award - Best Specific Environmental Initiative

2008 WINNER NSW Government Green Globe Award - Premier's Sustainability Excellence Award

2008 WINNER NSW Government Green Globe Award - Industry Sustainability

2008 WINNER NSW Government Green Globe Award - Small Business Sustainability

2007 FINALIST Banksia Environmental Award - Sustainability

2006 FINALIST Banksia Environmental Award - Sustainability