More and more investors want to increase their money with a clear conscience.

But do green financial products fulfill what consumers expect from them?

The consumer advice center Baden-Württemberg doubts about a 500 million euro fund from Commerz Real.

In a dispute over controversial advertising claims for climate-friendly investments by the Commerzbank Group company, the consumer advocates are therefore trying to appeal to the Stuttgart Regional Court.

The fund company misleads customers with its klimaVest fund “with questionable sustainability promises”, according to the consumer advice center.

A spokesman for Commerz Real rejected the allegations.

According to the consumer advice center, the provider is promoting the investment with a CO2 calculator that interested parties can use to calculate their alleged CO2 footprint based on certain categories.

In a second step, they should then be able to determine the investment amount with which they can offset their CO2 emissions.

According to consumer advocates, this misleadingly suggests “very specific effects” of the investment decision on one's own carbon footprint.

In fact, the query criteria of the CO2 calculator are not suitable for calculating an exact CO2 value.

Commerz Real relativized in the prospectus that it could not guarantee that the investment goals would be achieved, said financial expert Niels Nauhauser.

Hope for a decision with an industry-wide effect

Investors must invest at least 10,000 euros. A spokesman for Commerz Real said there was no such thing as a complained CO2 offset calculator. The fund wants to inform its investors about avoiding carbon dioxide and the connection with the personal carbon footprint. The calculation of the footprint is "a first orientation and assistance to make the topic more tangible". The fact that the carbon footprint and the impact of the investment would be put in relation to one another, "can precisely assess the qualified investors of the klimaVest". The information is also transparent and clearly visible. The fund company did not issue a cease and desist declaration to the consumer advice center. They look forward to a judicial clarification with confidence.

The consumer advice center is hoping for a decision that could have an industry-wide effect.

According to the notification, Deka Bank and Tomorrow AG have already issued a declaration of discontinuance due to similar cases.

Commerz Real emphasized that the fund's money should be invested in wind and solar parks, green mobility or forestry.

The fund aims to avoid 3.5 tonnes of CO2 per 10,000 euros of installation.

The actual result could of course deviate from the target.

It is explicitly pointed out that this is a target value.