Apple Faces Lawsuit Over “Carbon Neutral” Claims for Apple Watches
Apple is being sued by consumers who claim that its “carbon neutral” labeling for the Apple Watch Series 9, SE, and Ultra 2 is misleading, according to Reuters.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accuses Apple of overstating the environmental impact of these watches. The plaintiffs argue that Apple’s reliance on carbon offset projects, specifically Kenya’s Chyulu Hills Project and China’s Guinan Project, does not deliver real carbon reductions. They claim they either wouldn’t have purchased the devices or would have paid less if they had known the truth.
The core issue lies in the legitimacy of the carbon offset projects Apple uses to back its carbon neutrality claims. The lawsuit states that both projects fail to meet “additionality” criteria, meaning the claimed carbon reductions would have occurred even without Apple’s involvement. In both cases, the areas in question were already protected or heavily forested long before Apple’s participation, which undermines the idea that Apple’s financial support made any tangible environmental difference.
Apple introduced its first carbon-neutral Apple Watch models in September 2023, highlighting the initiative with a green “carbon neutral” label on its packaging. The push is part of Apple’s broader goal to make its entire business carbon neutral by 2030. However, the plaintiffs argue that these claims are false and misleading, as the carbon offsets supporting them do not result in actual reductions beyond natural circumstances.
The lawsuit points to a study by the National Retail Federation and IBM, which found that 70% of U.S. and Canadian consumers consider environmental sustainability an important factor in their purchasing decisions. The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages and an injunction to stop Apple from marketing the Apple Watch Series 9, SE, and Ultra 2 as carbon neutral.
