greenwashing

1 of 2

noun

green·​wash·​ing ˈgrēn-ˌwȯ-shiŋ 

-ˌwä-

: the act or practice of making a product, policy, activity, etc. appear to be more environmentally friendly or less environmentally damaging than it really is

The practice of greenwashing appears more common as firms attempt to better position themselves in a global marketplace growing more concerned with corporate sustainability.

—Timothy W. Aurand et al.

Not only is greenwashing bad for the environment, but it's misleading to consumers who want to invest in products that aren't harmful to the planet.

—Jennifer Manfrin

The greenwashing allegation … adds to efforts to heap pressure on some of the world's biggest polluting companies as regulators take an increasing interest in climate change.

—William Mathis and Austin Weinstein Bloomberg

A lack of rigorous measurement means that greenwashing is rife and bogus claims go uncontested.

—The Economist

greenwashing

2 of 2

present participle of greenwash

Examples of greenwashing in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Last September, Italy’s antitrust agency launched a greenwashing investigation into Shein over possibly misleading advertising claims made on the site regarding products’ environmental sustainability. —Martino Carrera, WWD, 25 Oct. 2024

As sustainability initiatives grow in scale, companies are increasingly aware of the need to avoid greenwashing—where their efforts appear disingenuous or purely for marketing purposes. —Judith Magyar, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

And there is no greenwashing happening at the company. —Morgan Korn, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2024

These customers are also wary of greenwashing and unethical practices. —Ted Kail, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

greenwash entry 1 + -ing entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1990, in the meaning defined above