Apple has been banned from promoting the Apple Watch as “CO2-neutral” in Germany.
Apple has been barred from advertising its Apple Watch as a “CO2-neutral product” in Germany, following a decisive court ruling that challenges the tech giant’s environmental marketing claims.
On Tuesday (26.08.25), a regional court in Frankfurt sided with environmental watchdog Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), declaring that Apple’s promotional language misled consumers and violated German competition law. The ruling marks a significant moment in the global pushback against so-called corporate greenwashing.
Apple had touted the device online as “our first CO2-neutral product,” citing a carbon offset initiative in Paraguay involving eucalyptus tree plantations on leased land. However, the court found that 75 per cent of the land leases were not secured beyond 2029, casting doubt on the long-term viability of the project.
“There is no secure future for the continuation of the forest project,” the court stated, undermining Apple’s claim of sustained carbon neutrality.
The watchdog celebrated the verdict as a win for transparency and environmental integrity.
DUH head Juergen Resch said: “The supposed storage of CO2 in commercial eucalyptus plantations is limited to just a few years.
“The contractual guarantees for the future are not sufficient, and the ecological integrity of monoculture areas is not guaranteed.”
Apple has not yet issued a public response to the ruling but has the right to appeal.
German court rules Apple Watch is not ‘CO2-neutral’ in landmark ruling
