Greenwashing definition
/What is Greenwashing?
Greenwashing occurs when a business uses disinformation to present an environmentally responsible public image. This is done by making unsubstantiated claims that a company’s products are environmentally friendly, such as being made of recycled materials, or using a reduced amount of electricity. This involves the use of rebranding away from a product’s original name, adjusting its packaging, and altering the marketing message to focus on its natural aspects without actually altering the underlying product. Some aspect of these claims may be true, but their beneficial effects are exaggerated, sometimes to a large extent.
The main point behind the use of greenwashing is to use it as a marketing tool in order to drive more sales of a company’s goods, since consumers are more likely to buy anything that has a minimal or beneficial impact on the environment. Greenwashing hurts businesses that have actually taken steps to have a smaller environmental footprint, since they are not benefiting from the costs incurred to be more environmentally friendly.