Unraveling Corporate Buzz Words
We’ve all seen bold terms like “eco-friendly,” “biodegradable,” “sustainable,” and “recyclable,” on packaging and product labels. But did you know corporations design these terms to assure consumers that the products they buy won’t damage the environment? Yet these terms are often misleading. And the companies that use them know this.
Greenwashing and Consumer Misinformation
More than ever, consumers care about the environmental impact of the products they buy. And some companies are really listening – designing their products in a way that minimizes waste and increases recyclability. But others are just along for the ride.
Greenwashing is a deceptive marketing tool used to trick consumers into believing that a product is environmentally friendly. This outward show of environmental responsibility allows companies to increase profits and boost their image, all while perpetuating waste and pollution. Some companies take it a step further – making voluntary pledges that they never intend to meet. That, or they actively work to undermine Zero Waste laws and regulations by adding in loopholes that allow for false solutions to count as waste reduction and recycling.
68%
Of U.S. Corporate CEOs admit that their companies engage in greenwashing
Source: THE HARRIS POLL
Transparency and Accountability
Greenwashing has become widespread, with the number of products being falsely labeled as “green” or “sustainable” increasing every year. The frequency of this practice not only makes it hard for consumers to know what’s real and what’s fake, but it also lulls us into a false sense of security.
Just Zero calls out corporate greenwashing at every level. This means we:
- Hold corporations accountable for the way they market their products.
- Scrutinize the pledges and commitments companies make when it comes to reducing waste and increasing recycling.
- Fight efforts to undermine new and existing laws.
- Push back on polluting and false solutions.
This won’t be easy. Few laws prohibit companies from making false or misleading statements. What’s more, existing laws are very weak and hard to enforce. But we can’t be deterred, there’s too much at stake. Together, we can unravel the lies and expose the false claims and solutions many corporations make that distract us from achieving real progress.