Greenwashing...

By: Stuti Viral Dave

Imagine you walk into a fancy hotel. Ooh! What's that? They're selling an eco-chic handbag? Now you can look cool while also saving the planet! But what's that, Stuti? They're just greenwashing everything? According to the Collins Dictionary, 'greenwashing' is the behaviour or activities that make people believe that a company is doing more to protect the environment than it really is. This basically just means that a company is misleading customers into thinking that they are helping to save the world, and it is not right! 

Here are the problems of greenwashing: Firstly, most companies are hiding even bigger environmental issues by diverting attention with false claims of sustainability. For example, an oil and gas company may be hiding years and years worth of damage to marine life by promoting campaigns to go electric. Secondly, funds that could actually help actually create a sustainable future end up hurting Mother Nature even more! Take recycled polyester as an example- it has 'recycled' in its name, but really, reused polyester that is made from plastic bottles gives out way more microplastics than regular polyester and ultimately contributes to ocean pollution. Finally, consumers are often tricked into paying more just so that they can feel like they are making an environmentally aware choice, while they really aren't. Like, when a certain fast fashion brand launched a sustainable fashion line, but studies found out that most of the items were even worse than their regular products in environmental terms! 

Now we know what greenwashing is and what its consequences are, but how can we spot it? If a brand excessively uses words like 'green', 'eco-chic', 'natural', and 'eco-friendly' with no evidence or keeps hiding things by plastering those words onto everything, then you can consider them greenwashers. Instead, a genuine company would be honest; we are doing this and that to combat this-this problem. In advertisements, greenwasher companies show way too many visuals of grass, leaves, trees, hills, and other natural elements to distract you from the issues. Also, if a company has a stamp of approval or something, make sure that it wasn't created by them and comes from a trustworthy third-party source. Sometimes, a brand may highlight one minor green attribute while ignoring a massive negative impact elsewhere, so it's our job to identify that negative impact. Remember to look for evidence that supports the claims that companies make! 

Greenwashing is everywhere, but in order to be smart consumers, it is our job to think twice when buying things and to help the environment with actual sustainable products rather than greenwashed products. Always remember to be alert and do join Operation Greenstitch to help combat fast fashion! Keep your eyes and ears open everywhere!!!