A French court ruled on June 23 that Volvic's use of claims like 'carbon neutral' and '100 percent recyclable' on its bottles was misleading. The consumer group CLCV brought the case, arguing the emissions from production were not fully offset by carbon credits. The court also found the bottles were only partially recycled, and the label's adhesive and ink were not recyclable. Volvic was ordered to pay 75,000 euros in damages and publish the ruling on its site for six months. Danone, which owns Volvic, said it will appeal. The company stated the carbon neutral claim was based on a 2020 Carbon Trust certification, which was withdrawn in 2023. Danone says it is now working to cut its global emissions by 35 percent by 2030. The case adds to growing scrutiny of environmental marketing in Europe, especially around plastic bottles and offset claims.
