Etsy Shakes Off Consumer Suit Challenging Carbon Offset Promise

Etsy Inc. is free, for now, of a proposed class suit alleging it falsely represents that it offsets 100% of carbon emissions generated by shipping products bought on its platform.

Lead plaintiffs Amelia and Taylor Blackburn alleged that Etsy said it balances out its carbon emissions by investing in emissions reduction projects. But Etsy’s promises ring hollow because nearly all offsets issued by the voluntary market are inaccurate on their net carbon impact as a result of methodological errors and fraudulent accounting, the Blackburns alleged.

The plaintiffs, who say they paid too much for the various items they bought because ...