Avoiding Greenwashing: Tips for Sustainable Brands

Team Easysize
21 Oct, 2022

As the general public becomes more and more environmentally conscious, an increasing number of companies are adopting sustainable initiatives in order to appeal to this demographic, however not all the brands are walking the talk. Referred to as “greenwashing,” this strategy involves promoting misleading or false claims about a company’s environmental practices. Oftentimes, greenwashing is used to distract consumers from the negative environmental impacts of a company’s operations. It can also be used to make a company’s products and services seem more environmentally friendly than they actually are.

One of the best examples are: Shein recently announced a $50 million fund that will go toward offsetting its environmental impact and handling its waste problem. Vogue calls this greenwashing!!

What is Greenwashing

Greenwashing is when a company or product makes false or misleading claims about being environmentally friendly. This can take many forms, such as using recycled materials in packaging without actually reducing environmental impact, or claiming a product is "zero-waste" when it's not. Greenwashing is a huge problem because it tricks consumers into thinking they're making a difference when they're not, making it harder for people trying to shop responsibly.

How to Spot Greenwashing

We've all seen it before: a company claiming to be "green" or "sustainable" when in reality, they're anything but or they have a one-off initiative that is sustainable to claim that the entire brand is sustainable — e.g. launching a sustainable capsule collection etc. This deceptive marketing tactic is called greenwashing, and it's becoming increasingly common as consumers become more environmentally conscious.

Greenwashing is the act of misleading consumers into thinking that a product or service is more environmentally friendly than it actually is. This can be done in a number of ways, such as using vague or misleading marketing language, making unsubstantiated claims, or using green symbols without providing any real information about the product.

With the rise of social media and online shopping, greenwashing has become even easier for companies to get away with. After all, it's much easier to make false claims online than it is in person.

So how can you avoid being duped by greenwashing? The best way is to educate yourself about what to look for. Pay attention to the language used in ads and on product labels. If a claim seems too good to be true, it probably is. And if you can't find any concrete information to back up a claim, be wary.

You can also support companies that are genuinely committed.

How to Avoid Greenwashing as Sustainable Business or Brand.

So, how can you avoid greenwashing in your own business or marketing efforts? Here are a few tips:

1. Be transparent about your environmental practices.

Don't try to hide anything or present false information about your company's environmental practices. Be upfront and honest about what you're doing to reduce your impact on the planet, and make sure that any claims you make can be backed up with evidence.Be clear about the impact of your products and services. Don't greenwash by claiming that your products are eco-friendly when they're not.

To help you communicate your sustainability efforts and build trust within your community there is Renoon.  This platform makes sustainability data as clear, consistent, and simple to understand as product color or price! To do so, they’ve built a sustainability value-framework that has been validated on over 500k+ data points and is in constant update.

2. Don't make unsubstantiated claims.

If you're making claims about your company's sustainability, make sure you can back them up with data or third-party verification. Unsubstantiated claims are one of the biggest red flags when it comes to greenwashing.

3. Focus on continual improvement.

Rather than trying to paint a perfect picture of your company's sustainability, focus on continual improvement instead. Talk about the progress you are making. Be honest and transparent about your environmental practices. Don't make any claims that you can't back up with evidence.

4. Avoid using greenwashing tactics in your marketing and advertising.

Be truthful about your sustainability efforts and don't try to mislead consumers into thinking you're more sustainable than you actually are.

Communication that is effective and has a positive impact on the environment. All brands strive to have effective environmental communications. These companies are attempting to enhance their goods' social and environmental performance, and they're doing it across the board. This include establishing sustainable supplier chains, establishing a sustainability plan and core mission statement, and establishing effective green communications. The latter entails precise and clear communication of efforts, as well as the necessary evidence to back up assertions. These companies lead the way in terms of environmental stewardship.

5. Educate yourself and your team on what greenwashing is and how to avoid it.

This will help you catch any potential greenwashing before it happens. Have Clear Communication while Marketing.

Claims, qualifications, and disclosures should all be written in plain English to ensure that they are clear, conspicuous, and understandable.

Inconsistent assertions must be avoided at all costs, including the use of elements – such as graphics – to obscure conflicts.

6. Stay up-to-date on the latest sustainability news and developments.

This way, you can be sure that your sustainability claims are accurate and up-to-date.

7. Avoid using Vague and Irrelevant Terms as Much as possible

"Made from natural products," for example, is a typical phrase in advertisements. That's fantastic.

But aren't the majority of things made primarily of natural materials? Oil, a natural product, is used to make plastic.

This does not imply that the item is made of ecologically friendly materials. Such assertions are irrelevant and redirect our attention away from the product's true environmental impact.

8.Get Legal Accreditation from Third Parties

Consumers may easily recognise your brand's good practises by looking for seals of approval. Instead of making up your own, choose credible ones that are legally recognised — that would be greenwashing! Some Credible industry-wide certification bodies include:

9. Always mention the Differences between product, package, and service benefits

Make it clear which part of a product or service the environmental claim applies to. The claim does not required to mention the environmental attribute if it applies to all but a minor component of a product.

There are exceptions to this rule, namely if the minor attribute diminishes the product's environmental advantages greatly.

To avoid customer confusion, comparative environmental marketing statements should be unambiguous. The grounds for comparison must be given objectively.

10.Avoid using buzzwords.

"Organic," "100% recycled," "recyclable," "environmentally friendly," and other green terms ring true. They make buyers feel as if they are helping the environment. Unfortunately, most of the time, they're just a bunch of jargon. It doesn't mean you can't use them in green marketing; it just means you should be cautious.

As a sustainable brand, it's important to avoid greenwashing in order to maintain a credible and trustworthy reputation. For starters, greenwashing can create false advertising claims, which are not only illegal in many countries, but also damage a company's reputation. In addition, greenwashing can lead to a general mistrust of companies' environmental claims, as well as decreased support for government regulations designed to protect the environment. Finally, greenwashing can divert attention and resources away from developing truly sustainable practices.'