Creative agency AMV BBDO has refuted claims made by its former creative partner, Polina Zabrodskaya, who alleges she was “forced to resign after raising concerns about unsubstantiated sustainability claims for two of its major client brands, Galaxy and Sheba”.

Supported by campaign group Climate Whistleblowers, Zabrodskaya said her concerns led to harassment and discrimination at the agency’s UK branch, having also expressed unease with Mars’ environmental and labour practices across its supply chain.

A spokesperson for AMV BBDO said: “As there are ongoing employment tribunal proceedings, it is not appropriate for AMV BBDO/Omnicom to comment at this time. However, we can confirm that AMV BBDO refutes Ms Zabrodskaya’s various claims.”

A first-stage case management employment hearing will commence in April.

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Specific issues spotlighted by Zabrodksaya included concerns over Mars allegedly using child labour in the chocolate farming process, as well as questioning the reliability of the Marine Stewardship Council certification used by Sheba, and claims that its fish is “100% sustainably sourced”.

“We are in the middle of an urgent environmental crisis. Our planet is being destroyed for profit, and top ad agencies conceal the damage from the public,” said Zabrodskaya in a statement released by Climate Whistleblowers.

“There are six million people working in advertising globally. Many don’t support greenwashing but feel unable to speak up. I won’t be taking any settlement, and I won’t sign an NDA. The case has to be heard in public.”

The former AMV BBDO creative also claims that she was suspended by the agency for making “unprofessional and inflammatory comments” after airing these concerns with a senior Mars executive. An investigation cleared her of any wrongdoing, and she later resigned in 2024.