Greenwashing: ‘Carbon Neutral’ Claim on Apple Watch,Ruled Misleading by German Court

A Frankfurt court recently held that Apple’s claim of its Apple Watch being “CO2-neutral” is misleading and violates German competition law.

The judgment was delivered following a complaint by the environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), which argued that Apple’s carbon-neutral smartphone advertising was a form of greenwashing.

Apple’s carbon neutrality claim was based on offsets from a Paraguayan eucalyptus forestry project designed to compensate for carbon emissions.

However, the court found that the leases securing 75% of this forested land expire by 2029, with no guarantee of extension.

This uncertainty undermines the long-term environmental promise Apple conveyed to consumers, who reasonably expect carbon neutrality compensation to last until around 2050, consistent with the Paris Agreement climate goals.

The court emphasized that the carbon offset project does not have a “secure future,” invalidating the claim. Moreover, DUH criticized the ecological impact of monoculture eucalyptus plantations, which can harm biodiversity and require significant water resources, referring to them as “green deserts.”

Apple, while committing to further emission reductions and innovation in clean technologies, acknowledged the ruling and reportedly plans to phase out the carbon-neutral label for the Apple Watch in compliance with upcoming European Union regulations taking effect in 2026 that restrict use of such environmental claims.

This judgment marks a significant step in holding corporations accountable for their environmental marketing, reinforcing that claims of sustainability must be backed by transparent, verifiable actions rather than short-term or uncertain carbon offset schemes.