greenwash

(noun)

A false or misleading picture of environmental friendliness used to conceal or obscure damaging activities.

Related Terms

  • direct action
  • environmental racism

Examples of greenwash in the following topics:

  • Why do businesses greenwash

    • Apart from the short-term financial benefits involved, the main reasons why organizations engage in greenwashing include:
  • The bottom line

    • Companies that greenwash not only weaken brand image and invite further scrutiny, they also diminish the concept of becoming greener, which is something that doesn't rest easy with companies that make the effort.
    • Recently, the American Federal Trade Commission called for a special meeting dedicated to the update of environmental guidelines, which will make greenwashing even more of a bad idea.
  • Introduction to the Perils of Greenwashing

    • The term used to describe the deliberate distortion of the truth in order to make false environmental claims is called ‘greenwashing' and the legislation that covers this area is notoriously lax.
    • But problems can and do occur when happy-talk and unchecked promises turnout to be nothing more than greenwashing.
  • Social Responsibility and Welfare of Customers

    • While brands are incorporating social responsibility efforts into their marketing communication strategies, media and industry critics have accused companies of greenwashing human rights and environmental issues.
    • Critics of social responsibility often accuse corporate brands of "greenwashing. "
  • Short-term gains, long-term pain

    • With a growing number of consumers and consumer groups on the lookout for disingenuous companies and their greenwashing campaigns, it's becoming increasingly difficult to get away with making deliberately false claims in order to obtain a short-term influx of revenue.
  • Separating the wheat from the chaff

    • Creators of greenwash campaigns are very good at fooling activists, customers, journalists and politicians alike.
    • For additional suggestions on how greenwashing campaigns can be spotted, visit www.greenwashingindex.com.
  • Another twist: capitalizing on guilt

    • Similarly with greenwashing, the concept of paying a second party to atone for the sins of the first appears to still be alive and well.
  • Arguments for and against Corporate Social Responsibility

    • For example, the term greenwashing refers to instances where businesses have spent significantly more resources advertising being "green" (that is, operating with consideration for the environment) than investing in the environmentally sound practices themselves.
  • Environmental Interest Groups

    • However other businesses have started to greenwash their products, leading environmental and consumer interest groups to pressure governments to regulate environmental product claims.
  • Introduction to Corporate Social Responsibility

    • Others cast the CSR efforts of companies as "greenwashing" efforts to draw attention away from unpopular practices such as polluting the environment or outsourcing jobs overseas.
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