German Court Rules Against Apple's 'CO2-Neutral' Claim for Apple Watch
Apple can no longer market its Apple Watch as 'CO2-neutral' in Germany after a court found claims of carbon neutrality misleading. The judgment arises from insufficient contract duration for a Paraguayan eucalyptus project meant to offset emissions. Environmentalists consider the ruling a win against greenwashing.
- Country:
- Germany
In a legal blow to Apple's marketing strategies, a German court has banned the tech giant from advertising its Apple Watch as a 'CO2-neutral product.' The court sided with environmentalists, ruling the company's claims as misleading to consumers, conflicting with German competition laws.
Apple's carbon neutrality assertion was based on a project in Paraguay that plants eucalyptus trees to offset emissions. However, the Frankfurt court revealed that 75% of the leases for this project aren't secured beyond 2029, challenging the sustainability of their claims.
Environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), which initiated the legal action, praised the verdict as a victory against corporate greenwashing. DUH's Juergen Resch criticized the ecological and contractual limitations of Apple's offset strategy, highlighting the temporary nature of CO2 storage in monoculture plantations.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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