Why we created our own Cookie Banner for our websites

If you’ve ever browsed a website and seen a message pop up about cookies, you’ve seen a cookie banner in action. But not all cookie banners are created equal and many of them don’t actually follow the rules.

At Mativus, we decided to build our own cookie banner. Here’s why.

The Problem with Most Cookie Banners

A lot of the cookie banners out there are:

• Vague or misleading
• Automatically track users without clear permission
• Use pre-ticked boxes or don’t offer a real choice

This goes against the spirit and in some cases, the law of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation), especially in the UK and EU.

GDPR states that a website must gain clear and informed consent from users before placing cookies that track personal data. Simply saying “By continuing to use this site, you accept cookies” doesn’t cut it anymore.

What GDPR Really Says

GDPR requires:

• No cookies unless consent is given (apart from strictly necessary cookies)
• No pre-ticked boxes
• Clear options to accept or reject tracking
• A record of the user’s choice

Too many off-the-shelf cookie banners don’t do this properly. That’s why we built our own to ensure our clients are protected and users have real control.

Why We Built Our Own Banner

Rather than rely on tools that didn’t tick all the compliance boxes, we decided to create a custom cookie banner that does the job properly.

Here’s what makes our cookie banner different:

• Consent comes first – No tracking cookies are placed until a user clicks “Accept”.
• No implied consent – We don’t use the “continue browsing” excuse.
• Modular design – It’s easy for us to customise for any client’s website or design.
• Simple for users – A clean layout with clear options and no hidden settings.

This gives our clients peace of mind and keeps them on the right side of privacy law.

Helping Our Clients Stay Compliant

If you’re a business owner or marketing manager, chances are you’ve not reviewed your cookie banner in a while or you’ve relied on a free plugin that may not be doing its job.

Using a non-compliant banner puts your business at risk of:

• Data privacy complaints
• Fines or enforcement actions
• Damaging user trust

Our custom banner is now part of our standard web build. It’s a small change that can make a big difference both legally and for your brand’s reputation.