greenwashing
Phony eco-marketing
Greenwashing is the practice of making misleading claims about environmental benefits to appear more eco-friendly than reality warrants.
Companies greenwash when they emphasize minor green initiatives while ignoring larger harmful practices, or use vague terms like "natural" or "eco-friendly" without substance: Critics accused the oil company of greenwashing with its solar panel ads.
The term blends "green" with "whitewashing."
False or misleading statement
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- shamFraudulent imitation
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
- falsehoodDeliberate untrue statement
manipulation · distortion · charade · duplicity · fraudulence · subterfuge · trickery · pretense
Substances released into air
- biodegradabilityAbility to naturally decompose
- recyclabilityPotential for material recovery
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
- compostableAble to decompose naturally
eco-friendly · deforestation · pollution · microplastics · supply-chain · offsetting
Environmental certification symbols
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
- packagingProtective product enclosure
- publicityMedia-driven awareness
- rebrandingRevising corporate identity
advertising · campaigns · slogans · buzzwords · virtue-signaling
Cheap, trend-driven apparel industry
- airlinesCommercial flight operators
- automotiveRelating to motor vehicles
- palm-oilEdible extract from tropical drupes
- miningExtracting earth's resources
Lawsuit representing many plaintiffs
- lawsuitsLegal proceedings seeking remedy
- finesMonetary sanctions or particles
- watchdogGuard or monitor
- accountabilityObligation for one's actions
misrepresentation
False or misleading statement
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- shamFraudulent imitation
- hoaxDeliberate deception for effect
falsehood · manipulation · distortion · charade · duplicity · fraudulence · subterfuge · trickery · pretense · deceitfulness
emissions
Substances released into air
- biodegradabilityAbility to naturally decompose
- recyclabilityPotential for material recovery
- sustainabilityCapacity to endure indefinitely
compostable · eco-friendly · deforestation · pollution · microplastics · supply-chain · offsetting
eco-labels
Environmental certification symbols
- brandingCreating distinctive identity
- packagingProtective product enclosure
- publicityMedia-driven awareness
rebranding · advertising · campaigns · slogans · buzzwords · virtue-signaling
fast-fashion
Cheap, trend-driven apparel industry
- airlinesCommercial flight operators
- automotiveRelating to motor vehicles
- palm-oilEdible extract from tropical drupes
class-action
Lawsuit representing many plaintiffs
- wrongdoingmisconduct, crime, sabotage, crimes, misbehavior
- Modern Trendscancel culture, doom scrolling, doomscrolling, echo chambers, fake news
- sustainabilityreduce, reuse, recycle, sustainable yield, recycling programs
- business ethicscode of conduct, ethics code, codes of conduct, ethics training, ethics committee
- consumer rightsrefund, warranty, repair, returns, replacement
- ethical shoppingfair trade coffee, ethical sourcing, sustainable sourcing, ethical shopping, buy local
greenwashingtransparency
State of being see-through
straight talk · full disclosure · accountability · ethical marketing · candor
green, wash, washing, washed, greenwash, greenwashed, greenwashes