Apple Faces Legal Action Over Allegedly Misleading Carbon Neutral Claims for Apple Watch

A new lawsuit filed in San Jose, California federal court accuses Apple of making false and misleading claims about the carbon neutrality of three versions of its Apple Watch—Series 9, SE, and Ultra 2. Seven purchasers allege that they would not have bought their watches or would have paid less had they known the truth about the authenticity of the carbon offset projects Apple relies on to meet its corporate emissions target.

The plaintiffs contend that two specific carbon offsetting projects—Kenya’s Chyulu Hills Project and China’s Guinan Project—are not genuine, as the carbon reductions would have occurred regardless of Apple's involvement. The lawsuit seeks both damages from Apple and an injunction preventing the company from using the term 'carbon neutral' in its product marketing.

Apple has responded to the allegations by stating that it is proud of its carbon neutral products, which are the result of significant innovation in clean energy and low-carbon design. The company claims to have reduced emissions for the Apple Watch by over 75 percent and is investing in nature-based projects to remove hundreds of thousands of metric tons of carbon from the air.