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The Hamburg Regional Court declared that TUI Cruises misled consumers with its advertising claim of achieving decarbonization by 2050.
The decision, which is not yet legally binding, follows a lawsuit filed by the German Environmental Aid (DUH) concerning the travel and cruise group’s future-oriented environmental promises. Similar greenwashing lawsuits are on the rise, with airlines and consumer products facing challenges for their sustainability claims in the EU and US.
The ruling challenges the practices of making distant future environmental commitments without immediate action. According to German news source ASB News, ‘In the court's opinion, the statement could be interpreted to mean that CO2 emissions will be completely avoided in the cruise operation by 2050, or that a balance will be achieved through compensation measures.’