Advertising with “climate neutral” can lead to a warning notice

Advertising with the “climate neutral” logo can have a significant impact on consumers’ purchasing decisions. Basic circumstances of the climate neutrality claimed by the company must therefore be explained. The Higher Regional Court of Frankfurt am Main (OLG) therefore prohibited a supplier from advertising its products with the logo “climate neutral” because this clarification was lacking.

Both parties produce ecological detergents, cleaners and cleaning agents. The respondent advertises its products on its website with, among other things, the logo “Climate Neutral”. The applicant objects, among other things, to advertising using this term. It considers the term “climate neutral” to be in need of explanation and the advertising therefore to be non-transparent and misleading.

The Regional Court had dismissed the application for an injunction. On appeal, the OLG ordered the defendant to refrain from using the “Climate Neutral” logo. The advertising was misleading. The advertising of a company or its products with a supposed climate neutrality could have a considerable influence on the purchase decision. There is therefore an obligation to provide information on the fundamental circumstances of the climate neutrality claimed by the company. The consumer assumes with the disputed “climate neutral” logo that basically all significant emissions of the company are avoided or compensated. He does not readily accept the exclusion of certain types of emissions – as undertaken by the respondent.

Also in this modern things, therefore, prior legal advice is advised 😉

Author: Marian Härtel

Marian Härtel ist Rechtsanwalt und Fachanwalt für IT-Recht mit einer über 25-jährigen Erfahrung als Unternehmer und Berater in den Bereichen Games, E-Sport, Blockchain, SaaS und Künstliche Intelligenz. Seine Beratungsschwerpunkte umfassen neben dem IT-Recht insbesondere das Urheberrecht, Medienrecht sowie Wettbewerbsrecht. Er betreut schwerpunktmäßig Start-ups, Agenturen und Influencer, die er in strategischen Fragen, komplexen Vertragsangelegenheiten sowie bei Investitionsprojekten begleitet. Dabei zeichnet sich seine Beratung durch einen interdisziplinären Ansatz aus, der juristische Expertise und langjährige unternehmerische Erfahrung miteinander verbindet. Ziel seiner Tätigkeit ist stets, Mandanten praxisorientierte Lösungen anzubieten und rechtlich fundierte Unterstützung bei der Umsetzung innovativer Geschäftsmodelle zu gewährleisten.