article and graphic by Sofia Guerra
common greenwashing phrases
Greenwashing stems from the term whitewashing, which means to cover up unpleasantries or sweep undesirable facts under the carpet. It is the name pop culture has given to the act of selling fake sustainability to the public. Its usage is becoming more prominent as climate change has become more of a discussion topic as well. Greenwashing often includes meaningless seals of approval, vague phrases like “cruelty free,� or sometimes even just green packaging or a green leaf on the corner of a label. One common example of greenwashing is a note card in a hotel room asking guests to make a sustainable choice and reuse their sheets and towels. On the surface, this may seem like an environmentally conscious PSA, but in reality, the hotel is simply benefiting from reduced laundry costs. Companies and businesses are often motivated to greenwash by the esteem and popularity sustainability entails. If consumers are led to believe a brand is eco-friendly, then they may be more inclined to buy and advertise the product. Greenwashing, in regards to marketing, can be both strategic and lucrative. In order to discourage greenwashing, sustainability needs to be incentivized so the practice is no longer viewed as beneficial. One way to do this is through investments. In any socially responsible investment process, one of the first steps is to ensure the money is going only to companies that the investor wants to support. When it comes to investing for sustainability, the screening process may seem obvious:
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Green grants Fighting greenwashing with investment
