San Jose, California — Apple is facing a lawsuit over its claim that the Apple Watch Series 9, SE, and Ultra 2 models are “carbon neutral.” The lawsuit, filed in California, alleges that Apple’s marketing is misleading and that the carbon offset projects it relies on do not lead to real emissions reductions.
The plaintiffs, a group of consumers from multiple states, argue they were misled into purchasing the watches based on Apple’s sustainability claims. They assert that Apple's carbon neutrality efforts, including investments in offset projects in Kenya and China, fail to deliver actual reductions in emissions. The lawsuit claims these projects—located in already protected or heavily forested areas—did not generate new environmental benefits, making Apple's claims deceptive.
Apple launched its “carbon neutral” watches in 2023 as part of its broader commitment to sustainability, stating that these models are produced using 100% clean energy and lower-carbon materials. However, critics have questioned whether Apple's reliance on carbon offsets rather than direct emissions reductions truly qualifies as carbon neutrality.
The lawsuit seeks damages and an injunction to prevent Apple from marketing the watches as carbon neutral. With increasing consumer awareness around greenwashing, the case could set a precedent for corporate sustainability claims. Apple has not yet commented on the lawsuit.
