Brussels Airlines is one of 2o aviation companies to receive a warning about "misleading green claims" from the European Commission and national consumer authorities. The airlines now have 30 days to cease certain activities before they are sanctioned.
In June 2023, more than 20 organisations submitted complaints regarding "greenwashing" claims about CO2 emissions made by Lufthansa (parent company of Brussels Airlines), Air France-KLM, Ryanair and 17 others. The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC) supported the case, which was subsequently lodged with the European Commission and the European Network of National Consumer Authorities (CPC).
Led by the Belgian Directorate General for Economic Inspection and supported by Spanish, Norwegian and Dutch branches, the CPC identified several potentially misleading environmental claims on the airlines' websites and apps.
The probe concluded that each airline was giving a false impression to passengers that they could pay a fee that would "offset" their carbon emissions. Clients were informed that this fee would be used for either specific climate projects or for the use of "sustainable aviation fuel" (SAF).
"The airlines are yet to clarify whether such claims can be substantiated based on sound scientific evidence," the Commission stated in a press release.
Terms such as "green", "sustainable" and "environmentally responsible" are featured in airlines' explanations of carbon offsetting mechanisms. However, the CPC reminds airlines that the aviation industry is highly polluting and therefore has a negative impact on the environment.
In addition, "questionable" CO2 calculation methods are not sufficiently transparent.
Credit: Belga / Nicolas Maeterlinck
"We treat every complaint we receive and investigate them thoroughly," the Lufthansa group has responded to the warning. The airline explained that it has set ambitions climate protection goals such as achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and has pledged to keep customers and stakeholders well informed about its climate commitments and progress in this regard.
All 20 airlines have 30 days to submit proposals to address these concerns and comply with European consumer law. If the CPC judges that these measures are insufficient, they may decide to impose sanctions.
