What Is Greenwashing? Definition Of The Term
WHAT IS GREENWASHING – In this topic, we are going to know and learn about greenwashing, a term associated with false information.
The website Investopedia defines this term as the conveying a false impression or providing misleading information on how a product of a certain company or firm is friendly or beneficial to the environment.
It is known as the unsubstantiated claim to deceive consumers into believing that a company’s products are environmentally friendly.
The environment, specifically nature itself, is associated with green. Combine it with the term “whitewashing” and you get this term. Whitewash means to deliberately attempt to conceal unpleasant or incriminating facts about (someone or something).
One instance was cited in 1986 in an essay that is inspired by the irony of the “save the towel” movement in hotels. This is where the term emerged when it was coined by Environmentalist Jay Westerveld.
The idea came at that time when consumers got their news from television, radio and print media and has no time in fact-checking like today.
Another instance was from an oil firm Chevron, which commissioned a series of expensive television and print ads to broadcast its environmental dedication. This was known as “The People Do” campaign. This, however is ironic since the oil firm violated the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, as well as spilling oil into wildlife refuges.
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