„Carbon Neutral"
Annex I No. 4c UCPD as amended by EmpCo (EU 2024/825)
What does it mean?
'Carbon neutral' and 'carbon neutrality' are almost synonymous with 'climate neutral' and are therefore subject to the per-se ban pursuant to Annex I No. 4c UCPD in conjunction with the EmpCo Directive (EU 2024/825) from 27 September 2026. This means that claims of carbon neutrality based on the offsetting of CO2 emissions will be deemed misleading, even if the offsetting is carried out through demonstrably effective projects. The BGH judgment I ZR 98/23 (Katjes, 27 June 2024) makes clear that the failure to disclose calculation methods and offsetting measures already constitutes a misleading claim today. Claims that state concrete reduction targets and transparently disclose remaining emissions as offsetting remain substantiable; relevant here is whether the standards used (e.g. Gold Standard) are disclosed.
Typical phrasings
- "Carbon Neutral Product"
- "Carbon neutral company"
- "We are climate neutral and carbon neutral"
- "100% Carbon Neutral through Offsetting"
Required evidence
- ISO 14064-1 Verification
- Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)
- Gold Standard (for offsetting)
Rechtsgrundlage (Originalwortlaut)
Anhang I Nr. 4c UCPD (i.d.F. EmpCo) — Neutralitäts-/Reduktions-Claim auf Kompensations-Basis
Quelle: Richtlinie (EU) 2024/825 (EmpCo) — verbindlich ist ausschließlich die im Amtsblatt der Europäischen Union veröffentlichte Fassung.
DEDeutsch (amtlich, DE-Fassung Amtsblatt)aufklappenzuklappen
„Treffen einer Aussage, die sich auf der Kompensation von Treibhausgasemissionen begründet und wonach ein Produkt hinsichtlich der Treibhausgasemissionen neutrale, verringerte oder positive Auswirkungen auf die Umwelt hat."ENEnglish (Official Journal, EN version)aufklappenzuklappen
„Claiming, based on the offsetting of greenhouse gas emissions, that a product has a neutral, reduced or positive impact on the environment in terms of greenhouse gas emissions."FRFrançais (Journal officiel, version FR)aufklappenzuklappen
„Affirmer, sur la base de la compensation des émissions de gaz à effet de serre, qu'un produit a un impact neutre, réduit ou positif sur l'environnement en termes d'émissions de gaz à effet de serre."NLNederlands (Publicatieblad, NL versie)aufklappenzuklappen
„Beweren dat een product dankzij de compensatie van broeikasgasemissies een neutraal, verminderd of positief milieueffect heeft wat broeikasgasemissies betreft."Empcora is a pure checking and documentation service and provides general information only on the legal situation based on the EmpCo Directive (EU 2024/825) and the unfair-competition / consumer-protection law transposing it in your jurisdiction including references. This is not individual legal advice and includes neither the rewriting nor the drafting of texts. No liability or warranty is assumed for the correctness, completeness or up-to-dateness of the analysis, nor for any legal consequences. The legal assessment of an individual case rests with an admitted law firm or lawyer.