A ruling from the District Court of Nürnberg-Fürth has prohibited Adidas from advertising its climate neutrality goals, citing misleading and impermissible practices.

The court concluded that the sports apparel manufacturer had deceived customers with its claim of achieving climate neutrality by 2050, as argued by Jürgen Resch, the federal managing director of the Deutsche Umwelthilfe (German Environmental Aid).

The legal action stemmed from concerns over a statement on Adidas' website, which the Deutsche Umwelthilfe characterized as 'greenwashing.' The organization contended that Adidas did not sufficiently clarify the methods it intended to employ to attain climate neutrality.

The court highlighted that the impression created by the company's advertisements suggested that climate neutrality could be achieved solely through emission reductions, which it deemed incorrect.

Instead, it was noted that the company planned to utilize the purchase of carbon offset certificates as part of its strategy to meet its objectives.

In its defense, Adidas stated that it aims to achieve 90% of its climate goals by 2050 through its own CO₂ reduction measures, with the targets set for 2030 expected to be met entirely through its own initiatives.

The company indicated that the ruling would not necessitate any changes in its operations, as the disputed statement had already been amended in August 2024.

In response to the court's decision, an Adidas spokesperson emphasized that their plans and emission reduction goals remain unchanged, asserting that progress in this area is already observable.

Since 2022, the company has reported a 20% reduction in absolute emissions across its supply chain.

Jürgen Resch of the Deutsche Umwelthilfe criticized Adidas for misleading its customers with its claims of climate neutrality, suggesting that the company is likely to achieve its goals primarily through compensation projects, which he referred to as a 'modern indulgence trade.'