Deutsche Umwelthilfe v. Adidas

In 2024, NGO Deutsche Umwelthilfe filed a complaint with the Nuremberg-Fürth Regional Court against Adidas and its statement that it would be “climate neutral by 2050”. The plaintiff alleges that the company’s climate-related advertising constituted a misleading commercial practice under the Act Against Unfair Competition. The plaintiff contends that Adidas failed to disclose whether the target would be achieved through direct emissions reductions or carbon offsets. The plaintiff alleges that this ambiguity misleads consumers, as the Act Against Unfair Competition prohibits deceptive and unsubstantiated advertising. In April of 2025, the Court ruled in favor of Deutsche Umwelthilfe, concluding that Adidas's advertising claim was unlawful under the Act Against Unfair Competition. The Court emphasized that climate-related advertising statements must be substantiated and clearly communicated.