The Trend of Greenwashing: And Difficulties in Regulating and Preventing it
Mr. Ashish Binayak IInd SEM MBA (2024-26) In an era where environmental consciousness is at the forefront of consumer priorities, businesses have increasingly embraced sustainability as a cornerstone of their branding strategies. However, not all that glitters is green. The phenomenon of "greenwashing" — the practice of conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or company — has emerged as a pressing challenge. While greenwashing allows companies to capitalize on consumer demand for eco-friendly practices, it also undermines genuine sustainability efforts and creates obstacles for both consumers and regulators. Greenwashing can take many forms, from vague claims like "eco-friendly" or "natural" to outright deception involving fabricated certifications and falsified data. A classic example includes products labeled as "biodegradable" without any evidence of mee...