Oatly controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2022
Advertising Standards Authority findings
The UK regulator banned or restricted several Oatly advertisements, finding that some claims could confuse consumers about which products they applied to and that one environmental comparison did not compare equivalent categories.
2021
Short-seller allegations and shareholder litigation
Spruce Point Capital questioned Oatly's management, accounting, revenue and margins and alleged that the company overstated aspects of its sustainability performance, including water use and wastewater treatment. The report was followed by a share-price decline and class-action lawsuits.
2021
PureOaty trademark dispute
Oatly sued Glebe Farm Foods in the United Kingdom over the PureOaty name and branding. The High Court dismissed the claim, finding only a very modest level of similarity.
2021
Oatly sues Glebe Farm Foods over alleged trademark infringement
Lawsuit filed
Oatly sued Glebe Farm Foods and sought an injunction to stop sales of its PureOaty brand, alleging that the brand was too similar to Oatly’s own. The article reports that the hearing had ended and a decision was expected in late July; it does not report a decision.
Company response
Denial — Glebe Farm Foods
“Although Oatly are much bigger than us, we do not believe we have done anything wrong,” he added.
Source excerpt
Plant-based drink manufacturer Oatly is suing a small farm near Peterborough over alleged trademark infringement.
Oatly, which went public in the US last month, claims Glebe Farm's brand is too similar to its own.
The Swedish brand is seeking an injunction to stop Cambridgeshire-based Glebe Farm Foods from selling its PureOaty brand.
2020
Backlash over Blackstone investment
Consumers objected to Oatly's investment deal involving Blackstone because of allegations concerning environmental impacts associated with companies financed by Blackstone, including links cited by critics to Amazon deforestation and road development.
2018
Use of manufacturing residue
Oatly was criticized for selling production residue to a local pig farm, which critics viewed as inconsistent with the company's sustainability positioning. The company said it would revisit the issue.