The Frankfurt Regional Court has barred Apple from marketing its Apple Watch as “carbon neutral,” ruling that the claim was misleading and violated German competition law.

The decision stems from a complaint filed by Environmental Action Germany (DUH), which accused the tech giant of overstating the environmental benefits of its carbon offset programs.

In particular, the court flagged shortcomings in Apple’s offset initiatives in Paraguay, where 75% of the land leases tied to the projects are due to expire by 2029. Judges argued this called into question the program’s long-term effectiveness, noting that climate commitments under the Paris Agreement require carbon storage projects to remain in place at least until 2050.

The ruling is seen as a potential milestone in Europe’s broader crackdown on greenwashing, with stricter EU regulations on environmental claims set to come into force in 2026.

In response, Apple emphasized its “ambitious and rigorous” decarbonization strategy, positioning itself as a leader in the green transition. While the company has not confirmed whether it will appeal, it said it would discontinue the “carbon neutral” label for its Apple Watches in line with upcoming EU rules effective September 2026.

The German verdict echoes the increasing scrutiny Apple is facing elsewhere. In the United States, the company is under legal challenge over offset projects in China and Kenya, with a hearing scheduled for November. Critics argue that those schemes also fail to deliver genuine emissions reductions.

As EU and US regulators intensify pressure, Apple’s setback underscores the growing demand for companies to back climate claims with verifiable, long-term results rather than broad “carbon neutral” pledges.

Sources:

https://esgnews.com/german-court-rules-against-apples-co2-neutral-watch-advertising/

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/climate-energy/apple-watch-not-co2-neutral-product-german-court-finds-2025-08-26/