A German court has ruled that Apple must retract its claim that the Apple Watch Series 9 and Series 10 are carbon-neutral, siding with an environmental group that challenged the company’s offsets. Apple had promoted the aluminum models as its first carbon-neutral products, saying their manufacturing, use, and disposal added no net emissions. In practice, each watch generates about 8 kilograms of carbon, which Apple offsets by buying credits tied to eucalyptus tree plantations in Paraguay.
The lawsuit, brought by Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), argued the offsets were unreliable. Judges agreed, pointing out that three-quarters of the plantation area sits on leased land with contracts expiring in 2029. Without guarantees beyond that date, the court said, the carbon neutrality claim misled consumers, who might expect offsets to last until mid-century in line with Paris Agreement goals.
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Apple defended its approach, telling TechCrunch it remains “laser focused” on cutting emissions through clean energy and low-carbon design and is on track to achieve full supply chain carbon neutrality by 2030. But the ruling underscores the growing skepticism around corporate climate claims that hinge on carbon credits rather than direct emissions cuts.
