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Greenwashing, also known as "greenwashing," refers to the practice of companies and organizations pretending to be green or promoting sustainability in order to improve their image, but without actually making fundamental changes. The behavior may include the use of advertising slogans, false claims about the greenness of products, or misleading labels that create the impression that the company is acting green, although its main activity and approach are still harmful to the environment.
Greenwashing creates the impression that consumers are contributing to conservation with their purchases, but they are often only contributing to the environmental profits of higher-ups who exaggerate their claims. Here are 10 examples of greenwashing to help you better understand the problem and how to spot it.
1. "Bioplastic" products
Many companies have started using terms like "bioplastic" or "biodegradable" to describe their products, giving consumers the impression that plastic is greener. However, the truth is that many bioplastics are actually created from petroleum derivatives, and some only break down under certain conditions, such as in industrial composting facilities, which are not normally available. In practice, such plastic can end up in landfills, where it is not broken down, thus still polluting the environment.
2. "Ecological"
Names such as "eco-bottle" or "natural bottle" are becoming increasingly common when selling bottled water. These names may seem ecological, but they are often plastic bottles that are only partially recyclable. Indeed, the ecological impact of bottled water, including the production and transportation of bottles, is very large compared to the use of tap water.
3. Cosmetics with "natural ingredients"
Cosmetic brands label their products as “natural,” “organic,” or “chemical-free.” These claims highlight a few natural ingredients, no products may contain harmful chemicals or ingredients that are not good for the environment. Terms such as "natural" are not regulated by legislation, which means that a brand can use these claims even if the product is not fully organic.
4. Car companies promoting "low-emission vehicles"
Many automakers promote "low-emission" or "eco-friendly" vehicles that have only slightly reduced emissions compared to traditional models. Although these vehicles produce fewer emissions, they are still powered by fossil fuels and contribute to pollution.
5. Fashion brands with "ecological collections"
Some fashion brands have started to offer collections marked as "sustainable" or "eco-friendly," which appear ecological. These collections may contain materials such as organic cotton or recycled polyester, but this is only a small part of the brand's offer. Continuing production is another fast fashion that consumes large amounts of resources and contributes to the destruction of the planet. These brands can thus gain an image of ecological responsibility, even if most of their activities are still unsustainable.
6. Energy company with renewable energy programs
Energy giants often highlight their investments in renewable sources such as wind and solar power. While these investments do help the development of clean energy, they can only provide a small portion of their business, while the majority of revenue still comes from fossil fuels. These companies can thus present a green image, but their carbon footprint remains high.
7. Food with "eco" or "bio" packaging
Some food companies use labels such as "eco" or "bio" on the packaging of their products, even if the product itself or the process of its production is not environmentally friendly. An example can be the use of cardboard packaging instead of plastic packaging, which, however, contains a thin plastic layer, which makes it impossible to recycle it. This procedure looks ecological, but in reality it can create a similar impact as classic plastic packaging.
8. "Sustainable" aviation fuels
In recent years, airlines have started promoting the use of "sustainable" aviation fuels (SAFs), which promise lower emissions. However, these fuels often contain only a small proportion of sustainable components, while most fuels come from fossil sources. This will not significantly reduce the overall emission during the flight, but the company gets the impression that it is ecological.
9. Banks promoting "green" investment funds
Some banks offer clients "green" investment funds or "sustainable investment funds." These funds may contain shares in renewable resources, but none may also include investments in fossil fuels or unsustainable industries. Banks thus use marketing to support an ecological image, even if they finance projects that are not sustainable.
10. Recycled plastics in the automotive industry
Car companies have started using recycled plastics in the interiors of their vehicles and present it as an ecological innovation. Although the use of recycled materials is a positive step, it is a small shift in the overall context of car manufacturing.
How to recognize greenwashing and why is it important?
Green deployment can be confusing for consumers and lead them away from truly sustainable options. If we want to minimize our impact on the planet, we should be critical when making decisions and check companies' claims about their "greenness."
- Verify certificates : Look for certified labels such as eco-certificates or brands such as Fair Trade and Energy Star.
- Explore transparency : Green companies regularly provide detailed information about their processes and impacts. If the company does not provide this data, it may be a signal of greenwashing.
- Watch your words : Claims like "natural," "green," or "sustainable" are often just marketing terms with no real basis.
Greenwashing undermines efforts to protect the environment because it distracts from real solutions and sustainable options. It is therefore important that we as consumers approach 'green' claims with a critical eye and support only those brands and products that have a real environmental benefit. Spring
