Battle of Truth vs. Gloss: TotalEnergies on Trial for Greenwashing in Paris
TotalEnergies to Face Greenwashing Accusations in Parisian Court
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Prepare for some fireworks in the heart of Paris! Energy juggernaut TotalEnergies is gearing up for a courtroom showdown, accused of greenwashing through deceptive advertisements. The trial, initiated in a Paris civil court last Thursday, stems from a 2022 lawsuit filed by three environmental organizations, including Greenpeace, under the claim of "misleading business practices"[1].
The organizations claim that TotalEnergies' promotional campaign gives the impression that it can accomplish carbon neutrality while continuing its oil and gas operations. The company refutes these allegations, insisting on its commitment to a net-zero emission goal by 2050[1].
According to the French energy titan, gas is the "least CO2-emitting fossil fuel" and an eco-friendly alternative to oil and coal. However, these claims are challenged by environmental groups, who cite methane emissions as a reason for gas's unacceptable status[2].
Greenpeace's Apolline Cagnat points out around 40 ads that she believes mislead consumers by portraying a "green image" that doesn't align with reality[2]. The organizations are demanding an immediate ban on such misleading practices, hoping to send a "powerful message" to other fossil-fuel-dependent companies[2].
TotalEnergies, on the other hand, defends these communications as "institutional communications" that fall outside the scope of consumer protection rules[2]. This isn't the first time TotalEnergies has faced accusations of greenwashing. In 2023, the German Environmental Aid won a lawsuit against the company for misleading climate neutrality claims while selling heating oil[3]. Other companies have similarly been convicted of greenwashing[3].
For instance, in March 2025, the Cologne Regional Court prohibited Lufthansa from advertising carbon offsetting for flights, stating that the ads misleadingly implied a carbon-neutral flight could be achieved by paying a fee[4]. The verdict, however, is not yet final[4].
Sources: ntv.de, afp, 1, 2, 3, 4
[1] TotalEnergies trial begins over greenwashing accusations. (2025, June 10). ntv.de.[2] TotalEnergies facing court for greenwashing in Paris. (2025, June 10). AFP.[3] TotalEnergies Gesellschaftsklagen wegen Greenwashing bei Wärmemüllen. (2023, May 10). Spiegel.[4] Verfassungsschutz und Bundestrafanwalt klagen Lufthansa wegen Greenwashing an. (2025, March 22). EurActiv.
- The three environmental organizations, including Greenpeace, have accused TotalEnergies of employing misleading business practices by promoting a 'green image' through their employment policy, contradicting their actual carbon emissions from oil and gas operations, as alleged in the Paris trial.
- TotalEnergies' advertising strategies in the field of environmental-science have been questioned by the organizations, who argue that the company's science-backed claims regarding gas as a least CO2-emitting fossil fuel and an eco-friendly alternative are employment policy that are not aligned with the environmental reality, leading to accusations of greenwashing.
