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.
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Deutsche Umwelthilfe v. Adidas
About this case
Filing year
2024
Status
Decided
Geography
🇩🇪 Germany
Court/admin entity
Germany → Regional Court of Nuremberg-Fürth
Case category
Suits against corporations, individuals (Global) → Corporations (Global) → Misleading advertising (Global)
Principal law
Germany → Act Against Unfair Competition
Topics
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Group
Topics
Target
Policy instrument
Risk
Renewable energy
Greenhouse gas
Economic sector
Finance