What is greenwashing?
Greenwashing
is a practice by which organizations which either
don't care about or in fact tend to harm the environment attempt to appear
environmentally conscience and concerned. Large corporations tend to take
advantage of environmental laws forcing them to comply with sound ecological
procedures by making it appear as though they are acting for the environment's
benefit of their own volition. Corporations attempt to cover up their environmentally
hazardous activities through expensive ad campaigns sporting ambiguous
pro-environment stories and catch phrases such as the now famous Chevron
"People Do" ad campaign.
Although this practice is normally associated
with big transnational corporations, it is also common in politics both
locally and internationally. In order to appear more appealing to the "green"
public, politicians often will choreograph insincere environmental activities
such as "tree plantings".
Corporate Watch.
Corporate Watch is
an organization dedicated to informing the public about corporations' "less
than ethical" actions. Companies in the spotlight are those like Nike,
Microsoft, Mitsubishi and Chevron. Corporate Watch is not solely dedicated
to greenwashing companies but they do maintain a monthly Greenwash
Award which they give to companies recently noted
for their attempts at washing away their questionable environmental activities.
Government too.
As mentioned above, the government also gets involved
in greenwashing. This
site shows this quite explicitly as the GOP,
perenially criticized for not being "green" enough, in an attempt at deflecting
criticism, adopts an obviously insincere pro-environment strategy. This
illustrates the point that greenwashers are not truly interested in saving
the environment, but simply in the benefits they can receive by appearing
to be interested in the environment.
Mitsubishi greenwashing.
Mitsubishi is one of the favorite targets of Corporate
Watch's greenwashing section. This site leads you to their
award for greenwashing the fact that they use
a lagoon, which is one of the last reserves for the California Grey Whale,
for evaporative salt collection.
Mitsubishi ad text.
The text
of a Mitsubishi greenwashing ad.
Chevron greenwashing.
Chevron's greenwashing attempts are probably most
familiar to us in the United States. Since 1985 we've been hearing and
seeing their commercials about how they go out of their way to save various
animals and sea life. It is well known that the oil industry is one that
feeds on depleting the environment, namely fossil fuels resources. By nature
it must. The oil industry is often criticized for polluting the environment
in refineries and spills. The oil industry sucks the oil out of the ground
thus depleting the environment, spills a little, pollutes a little in refining,
and then sells a product used for power which pollutes some more. Unfortunately,
this is currently unavoidable in light of the world's dependence on oil.
Nevertheless, in order to assuage the criticism that would normally come
to them Chevron has spent large sums of money to stage their People Do
advertising campaign for which they won this
award.
Chevron ad text.
The
text of a Chevron greenwashing ad.
What can I do?
It's not illegal to greenwash, merely unethical.
As long as the motivating factor in the world is money rather than the
species' survival, greenwashing and similar means of lulling the public
will exist. If you sincerely object to a company's obvious greenwashing
of their environmentally dangerous activities, contact that company with
your opinion, and exercize your right as a consumer to purchase products
which have been produced in accordance with your ethical standards. If
you object to a politician's phony concern for the environment, contact
that politician with your opinion and excercize your right as a citizen
and do not vote for him or her.
Corporate Watch provides assistance researching
corporations. This
site may help you in locating addresses and other
pertinent information so that you may lodge your complaint or opinion to
the right people.
If you have an example of greenwashing and would
like for Corporate Watch to be aware of it mail
your example of greenwash to Corporate Watch.
Visitors since 29 May 1998: 
