Highlights

• Mondelez International cleared of greenwashing accusations related to Clif Bar products.
• Judge said “climate neutral certified” label accurately indicated third-party certification.
• Lawsuit dismissed with prejudice, ending Salguero v Mondelez International Inc. case.

Mondelez International has won a greenwashing lawsuit concerning its Clif Bar products after a U.S. federal judge ruled in its favour.

The case centred on claims that the company misled consumers by labelling Clif Kid Zbar and Zbar Protein snacks as “climate neutral certified.”

The plaintiff, Cynthia Salguero, accused the Chicago-based company of deception and said the label caused buyers to overpay for products they believed were environmentally friendly.

Read More: Climate Lawsuits Rising in Nearly 60 Countries, Says Report

According to the complaint, the production of Clif Bars produces about 54,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, which is roughly equal to emissions from 12,596 petrol-powered cars.

Salguero averred that such emissions cannot align with the idea of a “climate neutral” product.

However, the U.S. District Judge Manish Shah stated that Mondelez did not declare the products themselves as “climate neutral” but indicated that they were certified by the Change Climate Project, a nonprofit organisation that helps companies reduce emissions.

The judge described this as a “distinction with a difference,” explaining that Mondelez’s labelling contained a true statement since it referred to a certification rather than a direct environmental claim.

Also Read: What Are The Main Greenwashing Tactics Companies Use?

On this basis, the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice, which means it cannot be refiled. The decision closes the case titled Salguero v Mondelez International Inc., held in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Mondelez and Salguero’s legal teams have yet to comment on the verdict.

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Source: Reuters