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Restricted claim

“Climate neutral”

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

High-risk claim Carbon & climate

Why it is restricted

The most litigated term in this list. Beyond point 4c, German case law (BGH klimaneutral, 2024) held the term ambiguous and misleading unless the basis is explained in the advertisement itself.

Say this instead

State reductions achieved and the roadmap for the rest, with the verification body named.

In English

  • “klimaneutral”
  • “climatiquement neutre”
  • “klimaatneutraal”
  • “climáticamente neutro”
  • “climaticamente neutro”
  • “kliimaneutraalne”
  • “ilmastoneutraali”
  • “klimatneutral”

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 neutral” High-risk claim “Carbon negative” High-risk claim “Net zero” High-risk claim

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