We have already spoken about greenwashing, which is “a form of advertising or marketing spin in which green PR and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an organization’s products, aims, and policies are environmentally friendly.” This is nothing new. How many times have we seen deceptive marketing in our lives? In the past few years there has been an explosion of “green” and “sustainable” claims by companies, and if you didn’t know better, you might be impressed with all these businesses being so supportive of the environment. But “sustainability” can have different meanings and applications. What does it even mean? One definition is “the long-term viability of a community, set of social institutions, or societal practice,” and “sustainability is understood as a form of intergenerational ethics in which the environmental and economic actions taken by present persons do not diminish the opportunities of future persons to enjoy similar levels of wealth, utility, or welfare.” I know that is a mouthful. Simply stated, we, the current occupants of Earth, should act in such a manner that will not harm or lessen opportunities for the future generations taking our place. Do you want to leave your children and grandchildren a complete mess with polluted air and water, food and water shortages, rising seas and floods, microplastics in their bodies, and beaches and land areas filled with garbage? Believe it or not, many people do not care either way. They feel that since they are here now, they should be entitled to live their lives without limitations. If there are these types of problems, then the next generations can address them. I do not agree. But I digress.
Environmentalists have found many organizations greenwashing, and that is bad PR because the fight against climate change is gaining momentum, and the public wants goods and services that are environmentally friendly. Companies are also being sued for “rampant greenwashing campaigns.” So, instead of exaggerating or lying about the great things they are doing for the environment, they are greenhushing, “a seemingly counterintuitive practice in which companies intentionally don’t publicize their climate-friendly actions and goals.” I guess you can’t get in trouble with misrepresentations if you aren’t making any representations. With the overuse of terms like “sustainable,” labeling something as sustainable also raises skepticism and perceptions of potential "greenwashing.”
We will keep an eye on developments in this area because companies should show their support for the environment and should not be either greenwashing or greenhushing.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/03/corporations-sustainability-woke-greenwashing-greenhushing/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing
https://www.britannica.com/science/sustainability
https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/sustainability.asp
Photo by Sam Lion: https://www.pexels.com/photo/trendy-young-asian-women-choosing-cotton-bags-in-fashion-boutique-5710151/
