ClimatePartner label ("ClimatePartner certified")

The ClimatePartner label has been awarded since 2006 by ClimatePartner GmbH in Munich and was known until 2023 as "climate neutral through CO2 offsetting". Following several European court rulings (Frankfurt Regional Court 2023 against Katjes and Federal Court of Justice ruling of 27 June 2024) plus the EU Green Claims Directive 2024, which bans blanket "climate neutral" claims without detailed proof, the programme was fundamentally overhauled. Since January 2024 the label is officially called "ClimatePartner certified".

The new standard is built on five mandatory steps: (1) complete CO2 inventory per GHG Protocol for Scope 1, 2 and material Scope 3 categories; (2) binding reduction target with interim milestones to 2030; (3) evidence of reduction measures in own operations and in the supply chain; (4) funding of climate-protection projects at least equal to current residual emissions (positioned as contribution, no longer offsetting); (5) transparent communication through a public-ID page with full data disclosure. The label may no longer be communicated as "climate neutral". For textile corporate this matters because many merchandise items (cotton bags, coffee mugs, collections) are still shipped with old "climate neutral" claims — these are legally challengeable from 2024 and must be withdrawn or converted to the new CP label.

• New since 2024: "ClimatePartner certified" replaces "climate neutral"
• Five mandatory steps: inventory, target, reduction, contribution, transparency
• Basis: GHG Protocol Scope 1/2/3, EU Green Claims Directive
• Practical issue for textile corporate: legacy "climate neutral" claims are challengeable