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Cases / Lobbying, PR and greenwashing · Germany · 2024

German top court rules 'climate neutral' claim by Katjes misleading

Short record: the main facts, with sources. A full case file has not been prepared.

Nature's voice · report
No measurement of the harm done to me here is on record.
Did nature suffer? Not measured.
Not on record
  • The record does not name which of my species, waters, soils or forests were harmed.
What the record lacks: 2 none on record · 1 insufficient · 1 not measured See the gaps

Germany's Federal Court of Justice ruled in June 2024 that Katjes' 'climate neutral' advertising claim was misleading unless the advertisement explained it. The sources reviewed do not say whether the advertisement was changed or any penalty was imposed.

What?
The BGH found Katjes' 'climate neutral' advertising claim misleading unless the advertisement explained it, LTO reported. LTO
Where?
Germany LTO
When?
27 June 2024
Who?
Gained
None on record
Lost
  • Katjes — Lost the case; the court found the claim misleading LTO
Harmed
None on record
Why?
The court found the term vague, so it needed explanation in the advertisement. LTO
How?
Court judgement on the wording of an advertisement. LTO
6 of 6 questions answered from the record

What happened

The record, in order.

Germany's Federal Court of Justice (BGH) ruled on 27 June 2024 that the 'climate neutral' claim in Katjes advertising was misleading. The court found the term vague, so it had to be explained within the advertisement itself.

LTO reported the ruling as a finding on the wording of a Katjes advertisement.

    In court and with insurers

    Every proceeding and every insurer decision on record.

    Lawsuits and rulings

    1. 2024-06-27Claimant won
      Katjes 'climate neutral' advertising case
      Federal Court of Justice (BGH), Germany · Civil · Not stated in the sources reviewed. → Katjes

      The court found the term 'climate neutral' misleading unless the advertisement explained it. LTO

    Insurers

    No insurer decision on record.

    What we don't know

    Undisclosed, unproven, untried: recorded as data.

    Nature

    • Not measured Harm to nature: The record holds no measurement of harm to nature.

    Record

    • Insufficient Reported but not verified: a law firm summary of the ruling dated 28 June 2024 was not used as a source.
    • None on record The sources reviewed do not say who brought the case, which product was advertised, or whether the advertisement was changed.
    • None on record No fine, damages or costs are reported in the sources reviewed.

    Did the harm stop?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Who paid?

    Not stated in the sources reviewed.

    Sources

    Voices on record: — Company or project— Government and regulators— Courts✓ Press and investigations— Communities and civil society— Researchers

    Press and investigations

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