Apple quietly drops “carbon-neutral” labels amid EU crackdown

Apple has recently removed its "carbon-neutral" labels from product pages and packaging globally. The removal affects the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and M4 Mac mini. The change took effect last month, following Apple's iPhone event in September 2025. The Apple Watch was the first product line to carry the label back in 2023, later followed by Mac mini models.

The turning point occurred in August 2025, when a German court ruled that Apple could no longer advertise the Apple Watch as "carbon-neutral." Environmental organization Deutsche Umwelthilfe accused Apple of reportedly "greenwashing" its products, thus misleading consumers. New EU regulations taking effect in September 2026 ban companies from using "carbon-neutral" on their products when relying on carbon credits or offset projects. Apple initially removed the labels in Germany before quietly extending them globally to avoid consumer confusion.

Apple reportedly achieved its carbon-neutral status through a 75 percent reduction in emissions, with the remaining 25 percent offset through carbon offsetting. Back then, Apple claimed that its products met strict environmental standards: 100 percent clean energy for manufacturing and product use, a minimum of 30 percent recycled or renewable materials by weight, and at least 50 percent of its shipments via land transport, not air. The remaining emissions are offset through "high-quality carbon credits" from projects like the Paraguay tree planting program. The company is said to have partnered with Forestal Apepu to develop fast-growing eucalyptus forests on deforested land.

Ecologists have criticized Apple's eucalyptus monoculture model for harming biodiversity, and it is worth noting that carbon offset plantations also require high water usage. The German court emphasized that Apple had not secured 75 percent of Paraguay's land lease project by 2029, with the contract renewal remaining uncertain, which raises questions about the project's long-term viability.

Apple likely considers the affected products carbon-neutral internally, despite removing the public labels. According to a company spokesperson, the decision was made to comply with upcoming regulations, not due to changes in environmental initiatives. Apple has reiterated its target of achieving carbon neutrality across its global supply chain by 2030, and states that all products are designed with environmental considerations, regardless of new EU marketing restrictions.