Environmental Action Germany (DUH) has secured legal victories against Lufthansa and Adidas in two separate greenwashing cases, with German courts finding both companies misled consumers with vague or unsubstantiated sustainability claims.
In a ruling against Lufthansa, the Cologne Regional Court concluded that the airline's “offset flight” option failed to clearly explain how or to what extent climate compensation was being achieved. The court found that the inclusion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) purchases created the misleading impression that customers were directly offsetting the emissions of their specific flights.
"The court confirms our criticism and addresses how one of the world's largest airlines systematically deceives customers and pretends that air travel is climate-neutral in exchange for additional fees," said DUH head Jürgen Resch. "Air travel is one of the most serious ways of harming the climate. Selling a clear conscience in return for indulgences is therefore particularly reprehensible."
DUH had argued that Lufthansa’s offset model downplayed the full environmental impact of flying. Resch urged the airline to eliminate domestic flights within Germany and prioritize rail options if it is serious about climate action.
In a separate case, the Nuremberg-Fürth Regional Court ruled that Adidas must stop promoting its goal of becoming climate neutral by 2050, stating that the company had not provided concrete measures beyond 2030 to support the claim. The court emphasized that such messaging can significantly influence consumer behavior.
"Adidas' defeat in court underlines the importance of clear and transparent promises for the future," Resch said.
DUH is now calling on the German government to establish stricter regulations and penalties for misleading environmental claims. The European Union is also moving toward tighter controls on corporate green messaging. Both court decisions remain subject to appeal.
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