Greenwashing by Dr. Oetker: Climate neutrality claim dropped after DUH action, methane emissions remain a blind spot

Berlin, 31 August 2026: Following action by Environmental Action Germany (DUH), Dr. Oetker has signed a cease-and-desist undertaking concerning its claim that it will achieve “complete climate neutrality by 2050”. The climate neutrality claim left consumers in the dark about how the company actually intended to achieve the target. In its advertising, Dr. Oetker did not provide a clear and sufficient reduction plan with verifiable interim targets and concrete measures.

DUH is now calling on Dr. Oetker to follow its climate commitments with concrete action and effectively reduce greenhouse gas emissions across its entire supply chain, especially its methane emissions associated with livestock farming.

Jürgen Resch, Executive Director of DUH: “Companies cannot advertise ambitious climate promises to consumers while leaving major sources of their emissions unaddressed. We welcome the fact that we were able to reach an out-of-court settlement and stop this misleading climate neutrality claim. Dr. Oetker must now follow its climate commitments with concrete action and a verifiable plan. We are calling on the company to drastically cut greenhouse gas emissions across its entire supply chain and, in particular, to tackle methane emissions from livestock farming. Methane has caused around one third of global warming and is more than 80 times as powerful as CO2 over a 20-year period.”

From 27 September 2026, new EU consumer protection rules will apply that strengthen the requirements for advertising claims about future environmental performance. The rules introduced through the EU’s Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition Directive (EmpCo) require such claims to be backed by clear, objective, publicly available and verifiable commitments set out in a detailed and realistic implementation plan.

Background:

The new EU rules are designed to prevent companies from presenting themselves as greener than their actual plans and actions justify. Claims about future environmental performance are subject to stricter requirements. Companies must support them with clear, objective, publicly available and verifiable commitments set out in a detailed and realistic implementation plan. This plan must include measurable and time-bound targets, concrete measures and the resources required to achieve them. Progress must also be regularly verified by an independent third-party expert, with the findings made available to consumers.

Dr. Oetker operates in around 40 countries worldwide, making the case relevant far beyond Germany. For Dr. Oetker, methane is particularly relevant. A considerable share of its product portfolio consists of dairy products, which depend on supply chains associated with methane emissions from milk production. If a company with a significant dairy portfolio promises climate neutrality, DUH believes it must also transparently explain how it intends to reduce the emissions associated with these supply chains.

Methane is one of the most powerful drivers of climate change. Agriculture is the largest source of methane emissions in Germany and Europe, with cattle farming, and particularly dairy farming, accounting for a substantial share of agricultural methane emissions. Cutting these emissions is therefore a key part of credible climate action in the food sector.

Contact:

Jürgen Resch, Executive Director
+49 171 3649170, resch@duh.de 

DUH Newsroom:

+49 30 2400867-20, presse@duh.de