Steve Coogan has criticised the super-rich for manipulating environmental issues to make themselves appear “wonderful”.

The actor, who plays the owner of a string of fast-fashion brands in the satirical film Greed, which is based on Topshop billionaire Sir Philip Green, said he is baffled how the industry has escaped scrutiny.

“The one thing there doesn't seem to be a great deal of conversation about is the huge imbalance of wealth in the world... I found that annoying,” Coogan told The Big Issue.

“They can actually spin environmental issues and make them work for them.

“Keeping quiet about their transgressions and shouting from the rooftops about small concessions so everyone thinks they are wonderful and some liberal-minded people might pay a bit extra for their products.

”People buy Fairtrade coffee [but] for some reason clothes seem to have escaped that kind of scrutiny.”

The Alan Partridge star, who plays fashion tycoon Sir Richard McCreadie — nicknamed McGreedy — in the Michael Winterbottom-directed film, added: “I’m hoping a discussion will start that results in people buying fewer clothes and making them last longer.

“I’m not going to convince everyone but you have to start somewhere.”

Green was once referred to as the “king of the high street” and has previously been estimated to be worth as much as £4.9bn.

The businessman owns a variety of high street brands including Topshop and Topman, Miss Selfridge and Dorothy Perkins, all of which make up the Arcadia Group.

Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Show all 95 1 /95 Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Paris This Paris Fashion Week guest stood out on the streets of the French city with a 70s-inspired look consisting of a floral print dress, contrasting blue tights and a shearling trimmed jacket. The street styler complimented the look by wearing her hair in messy plaits. Rex Features Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Paris This fashion week guest made a bold statement in a purple printed floor-length gown and leather jacket, carrying a small silver handbag. Rex Features Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Paris This fashion week guest kept things casual in a denim boiler suit that featured visible, decorative sticking and a tie waist. She accessorised with a black-and-white bandana and a denim Dior bag. 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Photo by Cornel Cristian Petrus/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan Model Bella Hadid was playing no games when she exited her car onto the streets of Milan, carrying a Lulu Guinness Bingo Bag. Getty Images Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan Gliding down the streets of Italy as though they were a runway, this fashion aficionado combined a colourful gown with a warming shawl, a pair of sunglasses and pearl-encrusted headbands. Photo by Cornel Cristian Petrus/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan This guest was clearly feeling the love, donning a black embellished top with a cut-out heart design at the back. Photo by Grosescu Alberto Mihai/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan Fashion influencer Leonie Hanne embraced the upcoming Spring period, wearing a floral dress and an electric pink jacket. Photo by RemotePhotoPress/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan InStyle magazine creative director Mark Lakatos proved that there is no such thing as too many accessories, donning striking eyewear, dazzling rings and a multi-coloured brooch to go with his Gucci jacket. Photo by RemotePhotoPress/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan This attendee stood out in a long white coat and clashing prints. Photo by REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan Brightening up the sidewalk, this guest wore a shimmering yellow floral skirt and striped top, adding further elegance to her look with a pair of large heart-shaped earrings. Photo by FashionPPS/ZUMA Wire/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan Fashion model Halima Aden appeared to float as she attended the sartorial event in an ethereal gown. Photo by Photoeventshd/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan This attendee made a bold statement in a multi-coloured printed fleece and trouser co-ord, carrying a light brown handbag. Photo by Cornel Cristian Petrus/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan There is no such thing as too many prints, this fashion guest appeared to say with her chosen outfit. Photo by Photoeventshd/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan This attendee seemed to take inspiration from Prince's signature style when making a turn at Milan Fashion Week. Photo by Photoeventshd/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour stepped out in a checkered coat, wearing a floral dress underneath, snakeskin-printed boots and her signature black shades. Photo by Cornel Cristian Petrus/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan Brightening up the pavement, this guest opted for a garish outfit featuring several different shades of green. Photo by Cornel Cristian Petrus/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan This Fashion Week attendee donned a Richard Quinn-esque outfit, wearing a snakeskin top that covered their face, a flared scarlet skirt and red boots. Photo by Cornel Cristian Petrus/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan Milan-based Candela Pelizza, who boasts more than half a million followers on Instagram, looked effortlessly chic in a green and blue dress and white boots, carrying a white bobble handbag. Photo by Cornel Cristian Petrus/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan This guest appeared to take inspiration from both the past and the future with her look, donning a leather-look brown ensemble that featured 1980s angular shoulders and a pair of cutting edge orange sunglasses. Photo by Cornel Cristian Petrus/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan This Fashion Week attendee wore a rich blend of pinks and purples, accessorising with a simple gold pendant and pink-tinted sunglasses. Photo by Photoeventshd/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan This guest opted for a curious combination of garments, wearing a baby pink coat, feathered strappy heels, a silver headband and carrying a black handbag. 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Photo by Grosescu Alberto Mihai/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan Ami Suzuki and Aya Suzuki, the twin sisters who make up Japanese music duo Amiaya, made for a bold pair in Milan, wearing matching outfits of lemon yellow dresses, pink and grey striped coats, red sunglasses and grey heeled boots. Photo by Grosescu Alberto Mihai/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan This Milan Fashion Week guest stood out on the streets of the Italian city in a white and fuchsia ensemble. Photo by Photoeventshd/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan This guest combined an oversized light grey jacket with a pair of matching high-waisted trousers, a polo neck top and brown, chunky-heeled boots. Photo by Grosescu Alberto Mihai/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan This attendee wrapped up for the cold, wearing a purple checkered suit, a pale pink scarf and a steel blue hat. Photo by RemotePhotoPress/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan This guest dressed regally in royal purple, completing her look with an unmissable headpiece that blended with her hair. Photo by Photoeventshd/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, fashion director of Garage magazine, wore an amalgamation of vibrant prints, combining a zebra-print skirt with a graphic T-shirt, a floral coat and white heeled boots. Photo by Cornel Cristian Petrus/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 Milan Who said neon could only be worn in summer? 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Photo by Saira MacLeod/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 London Eva Chen, director of fashion partnerships at Instagram, gave a peace sign to photographers as she walked the streets of London, wearing a grey tartan print from head to toe. Photo by Saira MacLeod/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 London Actor Joely Richardson's outfit perfectly combined red, pink and orange for a relaxed, stylish look. Photo by Saira MacLeod/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 London Actor Zawe Ashton pulled out all the stops in her extravagant, orange, frilled dress. Photo by Saira MacLeod/REX Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 London This Fashion Week guest looked striking in black and yellow, adding a sprinkle of sparkle with her metallic gold handbag. 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PA Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 London William D'Nero, founder and brand ambassador of fashion label D'Nero Group, kept things lowkey, wearing a dark grey hooded ensemble to London Fashion Week. PA Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 London Fashion designer Rachael Broussard stood out against the grey backdrop of the capital with her tan-coloured ensemble by her brand R Michel'le The Label, featuring a pair of high-waisted, wide-legged trousers, a cropped jacket and an oversized pair of sunglasses. PA Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 London This fashion week guest appeared to take inspiration from the 1970s with her get-up, wearing an old-fashioned floral garment with a high-neck white shirt underneath, and accessorising with a wide brim hat and sunglasses. PA Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 London While some opted for dark grey tones to match the quintessential British weather, others decided to bring a burst of colour to London Fashion Week. Bella, who goes by the handle @angelbaby.bella on Instagram, wore a doll-inspired outfit, combining a bubble-gum pink skirt and checkered belt with a multi-coloured, tie dyed sweater and playful accessories. PA Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 New York This fashion week guest colour-blocked her fashion week look by pairing electric blue trousers with a mustard yellow double-breasted coat and a patterned shirt. Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 New York This attendee wore a classic beige trench coat with white patterned flared trousers, a pale pink crop top and silver boots. 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Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 New York This guest wore a bubblegum pink suit covered in brocade patterns. To keep warm in the New York chill, he also wore a navy blue wool coat over the top. Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 New York This guest paired Gucci logo tights with black lace-up boots, a checked blazer and a white Prada handbag. Getty Images Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 New York This attendee wore a deep green leather dress, sheer tights and knee-high boots. Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows Paris Fashion Week: Best street style stars at Fashion Month AW20 New York It's not every day you see a denim skirt worn over tulle, but this street styler wears it with aplomb, adding a denim jacket on top. 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Speaking of Green's influence on his character in Greed, Coogan said: “There are even direct quotes from him in this film that we give to our character.”