Greenwashing
Greenwashing (or "green-whitewashing") means deliberately representing a product or service as more environmentally friendly than it is. Greenwashing creates a false impression of sustainability.
Like false advertising, it can be easier to spot greenwashing than to control it. Greenwashing claims may be partial, unsubstantiated or implied. Companies often exaggerate product benefits, but greenwashing is different.
Greenwashing is confusing at best, destructive at worst.
- It creates skepticism about the seller, the product and how to evaluate claims
- It affects people and ecosystems far beyond the actual buyers of the product
- Greenwashing is betrayal to socially responsible purchasers who seek out sustainable or eco-friendly products
- Greenwashing can ruin a company's reputation, since green buyers are educated and motivated consumers who retaliate with their spending.
Companies can avoid greenwashing through diligence and honesty.
- Take steps to practice what you preach. Incremental improvement is better than none
- Include opportunity costs into your operations like reputation, customer loyalty, quality of employees, reduced waste and pollution
- Enlist your customers, clients and employees to help. They appreciate honesty and may offer constructive remedies
- Sustainability, like diet and exercise, is a holistic approach. Your supply chains, operations, marketing materials and products must also be sustainable
- Hold yourself accountable and ask experts to help with product life cycle analysis, carbon foot printing, recycling or sustainability awareness.
Benefits Demonstrated by e360t shirts!
- e360t shirts are fully sustainable in every stage of their life cycle
- e360t shirts recycled plastic bottles, save water and save land
- e360t shirts put your green beliefs and words into action in a fashionable and comfortable manner
- e360t shirts are a small but meaningful way to show the difference between greenwashing and real sustainability. You will lead by example!