Avoid Greenwashing
Greenwashing is when an organization spends more time and money on marketing itself as environmentally friendly than on actually minimizing its environmental impact. Essentially it’s a marketing spin.
To avoid it:
- Look for stamps of approval from trustworthy organisations.
Greenwashing examples. Source: Copy That Co
- Watch out for buzzwords like sustainably made, clean, non-toxic, sustainable, eco, or all natural.
Take Action
The best way to avoid greenwashing is to shop from trusted brands and companies. We've done the research for you and selected our favorite brands that don't greenwash. Check them out!
Discover how to avoid greenwashing where you live. Plus, get your personal climate action plan!
Why It Matters
By understanding greenwashing and learning to identify its signs, we can hold companies accountable and ensure those doing right by the planet stand out for their choices. This will bring the entire marketplace to a higher standard and help us all make better buying choices.
Resources
Title | Description | Creator |
|---|---|---|
| A Guide to Greenwashing and How to Spot It | You’ve heard of greenwashing, but do you know how to spot – and stop – it happening? | EcoWatch |
| Guides for the Use of Environmental Marketing Claims | Federal Trade Commission (FTC) | |
| United Nations Urges Companies to Stop Greenwashing | Fossil fuel companies continue expanding oil and gas developments despite their net-zero targets. | Treehugger |
| Are companies’ climate pledges for real — or just hot air? Here’s how you can tell | Here’s how to spot greenwashing — when companies make misleading claims that make their environmental impact look better than it actually is — and what can you do to hold companies’ feet to the fire. | TED |
