German Environmental Aid (DUH) has filed a lawsuit against Adidas AG [1] at the Nuremberg-Fürth Regional Court, challenging the sportswear giant’s pledge to become “climate neutral” by 2050. The environmental organization claims that Adidas’s advertising campaign lacks concrete details on how the company plans to achieve this goal, accusing the company of “greenwashing.”
DUH’s Federal Managing Director, Jürgen Resch, criticized Adidas’s climate neutrality advertising as “meaningless.” He pointed out that Adidas has not specified concrete steps to reduce emissions beyond 2030, despite the company’s promise to cut 70% of its total emissions by that time. Resch called for binding requirements to ensure credible and verifiable promises for the future.
After a warning from DUH, Adidas adjusted its advertising statements but did not provide a cease-and-desist declaration, leading to the current lawsuit. Adidas has responded by stating that they have set emissions reduction targets and provide information on climate actions for various time periods. The company also mentioned that their strategies and goals are reviewed and validated by the independent “Science Based Targets” project.
Adidas has denied the allegations, emphasizing that independent auditors have confirmed its plans. The company stated that emissions per product have already decreased by three percent between 2022 and 2023 and that a detailed action plan is in place.
The lawsuit highlights the growing scrutiny of corporate climate pledges and the need for transparency in environmental claims. DUH is urging the federal government to take action against greenwashing and to protect consumers from misleading advertising.
Sources:
[1] German Environmental Aid files lawsuit against Adidas https://fashionunited.com/news/business/german-environmental-aid-files-lawsuit-against-adidas/2024120363250
