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Restricted claim

“Carbon neutral”

Is “Carbon neutral” allowed under the EU Green Claims Directive (2024/825)?

High-risk claim Carbon & climate

Why it is restricted

Prohibited where it rests on offsetting, which is how virtually all such claims are built. The German Federal Court of Justice (BGH, I ZR 98/23) additionally requires the meaning of the term to be explained at the point of the claim.

Say this instead

"We cut operational emissions 40% since 2021 and fund verified reforestation separately — the remaining 60% is not offset away."

In English

  • “neutre en carbone”
  • “CO2-neutraal”
  • “neutro en carbono”
  • “neutrale in carbonio”
  • “süsinikneutraalne”
  • “süsinikuneutraalne”
  • “hiilineutraali”
  • “koldioxidneutral”

Legal basis

Directive 2005/29/EC, Annex I point 4c, inserted by Directive 2024/825 (claiming, BASED ON OFFSETTING, that a product has a neutral, reduced or positive impact on the environment; a neutrality claim not resting on offsetting falls under point 4a and Article 6(1)(b) instead)

← All restricted claims

Related claims

“Carbon positive” High-risk claim “CO2 reduced” Medium-risk claim “Reduced carbon footprint” Medium-risk claim “Carbon negative” High-risk claim “Climate neutral” High-risk claim “Net zero” High-risk claim

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