A total of 21 airlines have committed to revising environmental claims that were considered ‘misleading’ by the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network following an agreement with the European Commission and other parties.
In June 2023, the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) filed a complaint against misleading environmental claims by 17 European airlines.
Air France, KLM, Lufthansa, Ryanair and Wizz Air are among the 21 airlines that have now committed to revising misleading claims that could be considered ‘greenwashing’.
The airlines are expected to adhere to the following commitments:
- Clarify that the CO₂ emissions of a specific flight cannot be neutralised, offset, or directly reduced by contributions to climate protection projects or alternative aviation fuels;
- Use the term ‘sustainable aviation fuel’ only with appropriate clarification to substantiate it;
- Refrain from using vague ‘green’ language or terminology, or any implicit environmental claims;
- Provide more information on claims about future environmental performance – such as achieving nett-zero emissions – with clear timelines, achievable steps, and the types of emissions concerned;
- Ensure that CO₂ emissions calculations are displayed in a clear and transparent way;
- Provide sufficient scientific evidence and information to support claims of improved environmental impact.
Consumer protection authorities will monitor the implementation of these commitments and take action against airlines that fail to comply.
