August 27, 2025, 6:07 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Can Apple advertise its Watch products as carbon neutral? This question was addressed by the Frankfurt Regional Court, and it delivered a clear verdict.
Frankfurt Judges See Consumer Deception
Apple can no longer market its smartwatch as a CO2-neutral product. The Frankfurt Regional Court decided this on Tuesday, siding with a lawsuit filed by Deutsche Umwelthilfe. The judges deemed the claim misleading and anti-competitive. However, the ruling is not yet legally binding and can be appealed to the Frankfurt Higher Regional Court.
The judgment stated that consumers’ view of climate neutrality is guided by the Paris Climate Agreement of 2015. According to this, only as much CO2 should be emitted in the second half of this century as can be simultaneously offset. Customers, therefore, expect that the CO2 compensation for the Apple Watch will be secured long-term, at least until around 2050. However, the forest projects in Paraguay used by the company for compensation are time-limited: Many of the lease agreements already expire in 2029, without guaranteed continuation.
Deutsche Umwelthilfe considered the decision an important step, calling the ruling a success in the fight against greenwashing.
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Apple had a different take. A company spokeswoman stated, “We continue to focus intensely on reducing emissions through industry-leading innovations in clean energy, low-carbon design, and more.” She also noted that the company is phasing out the labeling of its products as CO2-neutral—a response to European Union regulations.
With material from Reuters