Munich: The environmental campaign group Environmental Action Germany (DUH) is taking McDonald's Germany to court, accusing the company of misleading consumers regarding its climate targets. DUH claims the burger chain promised climate neutrality by 2050 on its website but failed to specify how this target was to be achieved.
According to Ghana News Agency, DUH says it filed the case to the Munich Regional Court I on Monday. The organization accuses the company of 'brazen greenwashing' and 'misleading promises about the future.' McDonald's has rejected the criticism. In a statement from its Munich headquarters, the company said it was 'perplexed' by the action and explained that it had already amended the disputed wording on its website.
DUH Managing Director Jrgen Resch stated that McDonald's promised carbon neutrality by 2050, including its supply chain. Resch suggested that McDonald's aims to benefit from a green image rather than operating sustainably. The association criticized the company for lacking concrete, verifiable details on CO2 emissions reductions, as well as interim targets and a robust implementation plan.
A McDonald's spokesman responded by noting that the website had been updated several months ago. As the criticized content is no longer accessible, the spokesman argued that legal action would not lead to further improvements for consumers. He emphasized that the website serves as an information resource providing background content for an interested audience and was never intended to influence consumption or specific purchasing decisions.