Inquiry Question: Are Eco-friendly products truly Eco-friendly in the age of green washing?
Round 1 research question: What is green-washing, and which major companies are at fault for creating this phenomenon?
– A growing number of people are adopting Eco-friendly practices in the hopes of contributing to the conservation of the earth in the age of climate change. (1)
– Environmentally friendly products are products that claim that they do not do any harm to the environment and are sustainably sourced. (1)
– These products meet the “Eco-friendly product standard” by claiming that they prevent air, land and water pollution which ultimately harms the environment, natural Eco-systems, and wildlife. (1)
– In today’s world, most people are aware of the damaging effects that environmental pollution has on the future outlook of the world, therefore consumers are conditioned to feel better about their shopping habits when there is reinforcement on the label (usually referred to in the form of an Eco-friendly label) (1)
– It is common to find brands that offer genuine and official seals of approval from reputable organizations when searching for Eco-friendly products (1)
– Many brands simply package and label their products with green colours or symbols usually in the form of globes or trees to give the impression that their products meet the Eco-friendly standard. (1)
– A classic example of a green-washing company is Volkswagen and how they admitted to cheating on emissions tests by using “defect: devices, which had software capable of detecting when an emissions test was taking place and altering the engine performance accordingly. (2)
- This is coming after the company claimed that they are “actively contributing to the transition towards renewable energies.” (2)
– Nestle announced in 2018 that by 2025, the companies’ packaging would be 100% recyclable or reusable.(2)
- Critics and environmental groups however, have pointed out that the company has not provided clear targets, a timeline, or additional efforts to facilitate the consumer recycling process. (2)
– It is Coca-Cola’s second consecutive year at the top of the global plastic pollution ranking, according to Break Free From Plastic’s annual report. (2)
- A lawsuit was filed in 2021 by the environmental organization Earth Island Institute against the beverage giant for falsely claiming to be sustainable and Eco-friendly. (2)
– As part of the sustainability drive, Starbucks introduced a brand new lid in 2018, however this lid contained more plastic than the old lid and straw combined. (2)
- In response, the company claimed that the lids were made of polypropylene, a socially-accepted plastic that can be recycled. Critics then pointed out that only 9% of the worlds plastic is recycled, meaning that the company should not assume that all lids will be recycled. (2)
– In June 2020, IKEA was linked with illegal logging in Ukraine which tarnished the retailer’s reputation as being a sustainable corporation. (2)
- Earth sight described IKEA’s wood certification scheme, Forest Stewardship Council, as green washing the timber industry in its report. (2)
– Polish Spring, Evian and Deer Park, all of which have nature on their labels, are examples of more subtle forms of green washing. (2)
- It is ironic that single-use plastic water bottles are contributing to the massive plastic waste crisis around the world, which is designed to be single-use. (2)
– Major financial institutions have talked a lot about fighting climate change in recent years, but this is another example of companies engaging in green washing practices. (2)
- New “green investment” opportunities have been introduced by JP Morgan, Citibank and Bank of America, however these same banks continue to lend enormous sums of money to the industries contributing the most to global warming, fossil fuels, and deforestation. (2)
– Green washing has been caught at companies like H&M, Zara, and Uniqlo over the years. (2)
- The clothing industry generates enormous amounts of textile waste due to these fashion brands in particular. Not to mention the fact that the working conditions are terrible with little to no pay. (2)
– Between 2000 and 2015, 60% of all garments produced were polyester, an increase of 157%. Due to the fact that most clothing ends up in landfills, this synthetic fibre can take 200 years to decompose. (3)
– It’s easy to learn more about a company’s core values and commitment to sustainable practices by simply looking at its website or clothing tags in store. (3)
– Transparency is key for truly sustainable brands – even if that means admitting to mistakes. (4)
-The beauty industry is not precisely renowned for their ethical or sustainable practices. From dangerous chemicals in merchandise to testing on animals and hundreds of plastic packaging, its a questionable industry to trust. (4)
– More than a quarter of Gen Z and millennial individuals worldwide reported that this year the environmental affect that certain companies had was enough to make an impact on their purchasing decisions. (5)
– There is already evidence of the impact that Gen Z is having by using their purchasing power to force businesses to a higher standard as many businesses have started to promote sustainable, green practices. (5)
– Paul Polman, cheif executive officer of Unilever stated “We are entering a really interesting moment of history. Responsible corporate world is running ahead of politicians and assuming a larger role is service to our society.” (6)
– Thankfully, capitalism has proved to be quite adaptable. It was created with humans in mind, and can change to accommodate those humans’ changing requirements. True sustainability is currently in urgent demand, particularly to address climate change, everybody doing their part to create the environment that is vital to long-term human existence. (6)
References
1. Thompson, W. (2020, February 9). What does Eco-friendly mean? Household Wonders. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://householdwonders.com/what-does-eco-friendly-mean/
2. Robinson, D. (2022, August 24). 10 companies called out for green washing. Earth.Org. Retrieved November 6, 2022, from https://earth.org/greenwashing-companies-corporations/
3. How to know if a brand is sustainable or not? Ourgoodbrands. (2022, September 8). Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://ourgoodbrands.com/tips-how-know-brand-sustainable/
4. Peel-Yates, V. (2021, December 1). How to know if a brand is sustainable: Examples & tips for 2022. The Sustainable Agency. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://thesustainableagency.com/blog/how-to-know-if-a-brand-is-sustainable/
5.Katiemjahns. (2021, August 11). The environment is gen Z’s no. 1 concern – and some companies are taking advantage of that. CNBC. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/08/10/the-environment-is-gen-zs-no-1-concern-but-beware-of-greenwashing.html
6. Hoffman, A. J., & Andrew J. Hoffman is the Holcim (US) Professor of Sustainable Enterprise at the University of Michigan. He is also a faculty affiliate and past director of the University of Michigan’s Erb Institute for Global Sustainable Enterprise. The author would like. (n.d.). The next phase of Business Sustainability (SSIR). Stanford Social Innovation Review: Informing and Inspiring Leaders of Social Change. Retrieved November 9, 2022, from https://ssir.org/articles/entry/the_next_phase_of_business_sustainability
