The Regional Court of Duisburg (Landgericht Duisburg) found Aldi Süd’s advertising claim that it had been the “first climate-neutral food retailer in Germany since 2017” misleading and contrary to German unfair competition law. The action was brought by the Centre for Combating Unfair Competition (Wettbewerbszentrale).

The court considered the claim misleading because the advertisement did not sufficiently disclose that Aldi Süd’s claimed climate neutrality was based on the purchase of carbon-offset certificates through ClimatePartner, rather than solely or primarily on reductions of the company’s own greenhouse-gas emissions.

The court held that a QR code or web link directing consumers to further information about the compensation mechanism was insufficient to correct the misleading impression created by the climate-neutrality claim. Given the particular importance consumers attach to environmental characteristics, the advertising needed to make the basis of the claim sufficiently clear in the advertisement itself.

Wettbewerbszentrale v. Aldi Süd (‘First climate-neutral food retailer’)

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Wettbewerbszentrale v. Aldi Süd (‘First climate-neutral food retailer’) - press release

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An aim to achieve a quantifiable outcome within a given time-frame, set by an institution such as a national government.

Policy instruments are techniques or tools used by governing authorities to promote certain policies in order to achieve predetermined goals. Put simply, instruments are how a government tries to achieve its goals, with this taxonomy being focused on national policy instruments.

Risk is the potential for adverse consequences resulting from the dynamic interplay between (climate-related) hazards, exposure, and vulnerability of affected human or ecological systems.

Groups  of people who are adversely affected by climate change or the response to it

A set of principles, processes, and practices that build economic and political power to shift from an extractive economy to a regenerative economy.

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Renewable energy means all forms of energy produced from renewable sources in a sustainable manner.

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Area of the economy in which actors engage in identical or related activities.

In human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate change and its effects, in order to moderate harm, increase resilience or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate change and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate change and its effects.

The management and allocation of funds, assets and investments to meet various objectives

This sector involves the wholesale and retail selling of goods.

This sector creates and distributes information and entertainment through television, radio, print, and digital platforms.

Wettbewerbszentrale v. Aldi Süd (‘First climate-neutral food retailer’) - press release

Economic sector