Greenwashing is when a company or organization will advertise that they care about the environment, but then their actions are the complete opposite. Greenwashing was first coined by Jay Westerveld in 1983 when on a trip to Fiji he saw that the beachcomber resort had a sign that said pick up your towels because oceans and reefs are precious resources and by re-using the towels we can help protect the environment. This would be an o.k sign to have if the resort itself cared about the environment, but in their actions they were building multiple resorts without care for the natural ecosystem on the island. Companies not only want to make it seem that they are environmentally conscious, but want to put the responsibility to be environmentally responsible solely into the hands of the consumer.

A photo taken from the Dead River Watershed before and after Nestle drained it of water. https://www.change.org/p/limit-nestle-s-michigan-water-withdrawals

A 2015 poll showed that 66% of consumers are willing to pay more for environmentally sustainable products. This makes the greenwashing tactics for companies more and more complex and harder for consumers to understand if they really are doing the right thing for the environment. Nestle spends millions of dollars a year to try to tell consumers that their water bottles are the most environmentally responsible consumer product in the world. This is far from reality, in 2003 a Michigan court ruled that Nestle was the culprit for draining the Dead River watershed where it pulled out 210 millions of gallons of water annually. Also, five of Nestle water plants are in California, which as a state has been experiencing major droughts in the past decade and has had many water rights disputes between Northern and Southern California. Even Nestle’s logo of a bird in a nest is far from the truth of what happens to the wildlife after their streams and watersheds are removed of all water and life.

Greenwashing is found not only in big fossil fuel and food companies but also in every category of products we purchase. How can you spot the difference between what the company is wanting you to see and what is actually the truth? First, look past the packaging and read the label. Many companies will use greens and blue colors and images of the earth to show that they are a “better” choice when after looking at the lable you can see that the ingredients are not environmentally sustainable at all. Second, look for correct branding, many companies will throw around buzz words like “all natural”, “sustainable”, and “organic” without having the actual seals such as FDA approved, USDA Organic, Rainforest alliance certified, Fair trade, Non-GMO, and/or green sealed approved. Third, understand what the company means by being “environmental”, are their clothes organic cotton but they are made in sweatshops? Or are the shoes vegan, but the company is a big pollutant overseas where the product is made? These can be tough to spot so that is why lastly, you need to do your research. This can be time consuming, but there are many apps and websites like “Good on you” and “Think Dirty” that assess what brands are actually making an environmental commitment and which ones are not.

Another helpful tip that I practice in my life is to find shops that I can trust. I support many of my local refill stores where I can bring a container from home and then I can refill it with products that I know that the store has hand picked to as the best environmental choice. Check out if there are any refill stores in your area or check out our sustainable gift guide on the Tuesdays for Trash instagram page. Whatever you do, be a smart consumer and encourage others to do the same so that we can keep companies to a higher environmental standard then their greenwashed products.

Sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/aug/20/greenwashing-environmentalism-lies-companies

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/oct/29/the-fight-over-water-how-nestle-dries-up-us-creeks-to-sell-water-in-plastic-bottles#:~:text=A%20Michigan%20court%20ruled%20in,monitor%20levels%20in%20real%20time.

https://foodrevolution.org/blog/how-to-avoid-greenwashing/