greenwashing
GREEN-wosh-ing
/ˈɡriːnwɒʃɪŋ/
The practice of making misleading or unsubstantiated claims about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or company.
It is a form of 'spin' or deceptive marketing where the image of being 'green' is more important than actual environmental impact.
The story behind the word. The term was coined in 1986 by environmentalist Jay Westerveld. He was staying at a hotel that asked guests to reuse towels to 'save the environment,' while the hotel was simultaneously expanding into sensitive ecosystems nearby.
Word relationships
- disinformation: False information spread deliberately.
- window dressing: Making something look better than it is to hide the truth.
- transparency: Being open and honest about practices.
- accountability: Taking responsibility for one's actions.
Commonly confused with
- whitewashing: Whitewashing is hiding unpleasant facts in general; greenwashing is specifically about environmental facts.
Word family
- greenwash (verb): To engage in greenwashing.
Collocations
- accused of greenwashing
- corporate greenwashing
- spot greenwashing
- greenwashing tactics
Example sentences
- "The hotel's claim of being 'eco-friendly' just because they don't wash towels every day was criticized as mere greenwashing." A critique of a hotel's policy.
- "Savvy travelers are becoming better at spotting greenwashing in glossy brochures that hide a resort's massive carbon footprint." A warning to consumers.
Memory hook
Think of a company 'washing' their dirty secrets with 'green' paint. Greenwashing = Fake eco-friendly.
When not to use
Don't use it for genuine mistakes; it implies a level of intentional deception for profit.
Fun facts
- The term was inspired by the older term 'whitewashing,' which comes from using cheap white paint to cover up stains on a wall.
Related words
Explore more words
greenwash, greenhushing, misleading, deceptive, astroturfing, disinformation
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