With the creation of social media boosting the already increasing awareness of climate change, the demand for sustainability has also pressured businesses to undergo major changes and for consumers to reevaluate their buying habits. However, this has also caused many companies to spread misleading information in order to attract more customers.

Greenwashing is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as the act or practice of making a product, policy, activity, etc. appear to be more environmentally friendly or less environmentally damaging than it really is. Many fashion companies are guilty of this practice in order to attract more consumers without having to invest as much in sustainability costs. Some companies greenwash their brand by falsely claiming that certain materials were sourced sustainably, other methods of greenwashing could also be companies having certain sustainable lines where they practice sustainability only for those clothes but not for the rest of their much larger collections, or by using ambiguous language which suggests to consumers that they are being sustainable while actually not. One example of greenwashing is bioplastics, many big corporations promote the use of biodegradable plastics since 90% of plastic is not recycled, bioplastics decompose and theoretically would be less environmentally harmful. However, biodegradable items often require a specific temperature and environment to degrade ⁠— requirements rarely met by landfills therefore biodegradable plastics are not necessarily the best option and do not replace the need for recycling. The manufacturing of bioplastics also produces more pollutants because of the extra pesticides and fertilizers required to make them.

It’s important for consumers to notice signs of greenwashing and avoid being manipulated into believing what corporations they’re supporting are right for the planet. The most common ones are like the plastic example, companies may market a new sustainable approach without disclosing the environmental impacts that it may cause as well. Lack of proof of sustainability is another sign to watch out for, some brands may use ambiguous phrases like “made with eco-friendly fabric” without providing any other information on how and what the materials are. Another sign of greenwashing is a lack of relevance to the product, for example, a trash bag company may say that their bags are 100% recyclable, but that will almost not make any impact because their purpose is to hold garbage and non-recyclable items.

Ultimately, Greenwashing is a tactic used by many businesses to manipulate well-wishing consumers, it’s important to be aware of this tactic and thoroughly research their “sustainable” items and look for signs of Greenwashing before purchasing or supporting them.

Works Cited

“Bioplastics: the behind-the-scenes greenwashing.” Medium. Mar 15, 2021. Web. December 27, 2022 <https://mikacycle.medium.com/bioplastics-the-behind-the-scenes-greenwashing-12834df87e0a>.

Gibbens, Sarah. “Is your favorite ‘green’ product as eco-friendly as it claims to be?” National Geographic. Nov, 22, 2022. Web. December 23, 2022 <https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/what-is-greenwashing-how-to-spot>.

“greenwashing .” Merriam Webster. Web. December 27, 2022 <https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/greenwashin>.

Kaner, Gul. “Https://Link.Springer.Com/Chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-74065-8_9.” Palgrave MacmillanWeb.

Noyes, Lydia. “A Guide to Greenwashing and How to Spot It .” EcoWatch. Nov 26, 2022. Web. December 27, 2022 <https://www.ecowatch.com/greenwashing-guide-2655331542.html>.

Walmart, U.S. V.Print.

Kenway, Natalie. “Greenwashing claims as half of Article 9 funds invest in fossil fuels.” ESGCLARITY. Nov 30, 2022. Web. December 27, 2022 <https://esgclarity.com/greenwashing-claims-as-half-of-article-9-funds-invest-in-fossil-fuels/>.

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