GREENWASHING

What Does GREENWASHING Mean?

The Quick Answer

GREENWASHING means "Deceptive Use Of Environmental Claims in Marketing."

More Observations...

It is based on the practice of whitewashing walls or fences with a cheap white paint that covers up dirt and other marks, thereby hiding the unattractive aspects of something and projecting a spotlessly clean image. Greenwashing is employed by governments as a form of propaganda and by corporations as a marketing ploy to help divert public attention from the true environmental impacts of their policies or activities. Famous examples of greenwashing include:

• Volkswagen claiming their vehicles produced low emissions when they were actually engineered to cheat emissions tests.
• Starbucks introducing straw-less lids that contained more plastic than their lids with straws.
• Canadian coffe company Keurig's claims that their plastic coffee pods could be recycled simply.

Image for GREENWASHING

When I write GREENWASHING, I mean this:

"Deceptive Use Of Environmental Claims in Marketing"

Summary of Key Points

"Deceptive Use Of Environmental Claims in Marketing" is, by far, the most common meaning for GREENWASHING when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

GREENWASHING
Definition:	Deceptive Use Of Environmental Claims in Marketing
Type:	Word
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Example of GREENWASHING Used in a Text

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