Greenwashing is the practice of marketing products in a way designed to convince consumers that the product is more environmentally friendly than it actually is.
An army of advertisers and marketers see a growing climate and environmental movement and are adjusting their ads to reflect that to sell more stuff. Do the terms eco-friendly, natural, and sustainably made sound familiar? In some cases, it is genuine. Unfortunately, in too many cases, it is simply a marketing ploy, and the products are really not sustainably made or environmentally friendly.
The range of products that gets greenwashed is broad, including food, household cleaners, air travel, gasoline, and clothing. Oil companies have been particularly brazen about it in an attempt to cover the damage from the pollution they create.
Recognize greenwashing, call it out for what it is, and act accordingly.
Some governments have been making strides to combat greenwashing. Check out this article to learn about Europe’s anti-greenwashing laws!