Environmental group sues McDonald’s over alleged “greenwashing”

The environmental organisation Environmental Action Germany (DUH) has filed a lawsuit against McDonald’s in Germany, accusing the company of misleading consumers about its climate goals.

According to dpa, the complaint was submitted to the Munich Regional Court. The organisation claims that the fast-food chain stated on its website that it aims to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, but did not provide sufficient detail on how this would be implemented.

The group argues that such claims constitute “greenwashing” and points to a lack of concrete and verifiable data on CO2 emission reductions, as well as the absence of intermediate targets.

Executive Director Jürgen Resch said the company was seeking to benefit from a “green” image rather than demonstrating genuinely sustainable practices.

McDonald’s has rejected the allegations, stating that the disputed wording on its website was already updated several months ago. According to a company representative, the content in question is no longer available and therefore the lawsuit will not lead to further changes for consumers.

The company also emphasised that its website is informational in nature and was not intended to influence consumer decisions.

By Vugar Khalilov