Climate neutral and carbon offsetting: which claims are prohibited?
Presenting a product as climate neutral, CO₂ neutral or having reduced climate impact based on greenhouse-gas offsetting becomes a prohibited commercial practice from 27 September 2026.
Why is offsetting critical here?
The rules distinguish the actual lifecycle impact of the product from offsetting outside its value chain. Offsetting cannot be used to present the product itself as neutral, reduced or positive in greenhouse-gas terms.
Can a business still communicate about climate projects?
Information about investments in environmental or carbon-credit projects can still be communicated when it is not misleading and is not used to make a prohibited product claim.
What should you check?
Look for climate neutral, CO₂ neutral, net zero and similar claims combined with offsets, compensation, credits or climate projects, then review the exact context.
Directive (EU) 2024/825 · European Commission
General information; not legal advice.