Court orders Obi to stop marketing paint as "climate-neutral"

DIY store chain Obi is prohibited from marketing its wall paint as "climate-neutral" following a court ruling. The Cologne District Court issued the decision based on a lawsuit filed by Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH), stating that Obi Home and Garden GmbH had advertised a paint on its website as climate-neutral without adequately informing consumers about how this neutrality was achieved.

Obi's defense argued that the responsibility for the "climate-neutral" claim lay with another company within the Obi group. However, the court did not accept this argument. The ruling is not yet legally binding.

According to DUH, the verdict is significant for climate protection, preventing retailers from making unsubstantiated environmental claims. DUH stated that Obi was attempting to benefit from a "green" marketing promise without providing sufficient evidence. The organization urges Obi to ensure that products sold are developed in an environmentally and climate-friendly manner.

DUH called on Obi to cease selling products whose purported climate neutrality relies on opaque compensation projects. The environmental group has a history of challenging misleading environmental marketing claims aimed at consumers.