This guidebook has been developed to support teachers and students in learning about greenwashing as a barrier to sustainable development.
Rachel Elizabeth Kendrick is an Education Consultant, Educator and Vice-Chairman of the Politics and Society Teachers Association of Ireland (PASTAI).
Who is responsible and to blame for practices that can only be called greenwashing? What bodies actively identify and regulate greenwashing?
To find the answers to the questions above and to begin to unpack the complex issue of greenwashing, continue reading the information outlined in this document.
More specifically, part two sets out to:
For more, check out the first part of the series which supports teachers and students in learning about greenwashing as a barrier to sustainable development. It begins by defining the term ‘sustainable development’ and introduces the ‘Mother of Sustainability’: Gro Harlem Brundtland.
A workshop based on the Greenwashing guidebook was led by Rachel Elizabeth Kendrick on the 11th of May 2023 from 4-5pm.
Rationale:
One approach to teaching and learning for sustainable development is to start by first analysing the role each of the five bodies (below) play in engaging, preventing and stopping greenwashing practices.
More specifically, the rest of this part of the guidebook outlines a fundamental analysis of the roles that each of the five core bodies play in generating environmental impact and promoting and hindering sustainable development and contains 7 short sample examination paper questions and 6 mini-database questions throughout.
The five bodies are:
Several international regulations and agreements are in place to address greenwashing and promote sustainability, such as The European Union’s Ecolabel and The Paris Agreement.
Additionally, the European Commission has introduced legislative measures to help promote sustainable consumption and production patterns and reduce the negative environmental impact of economic activities.
There is a set of legislative measures put forward by the European Commission to drive sustainable economic growth and achieve climate neutrality in the European Union by 2050. These cover three areas of regulation:
(1) Establishing a common language for sustainable activities.
(2) Classifying these activities.
(3) Increasing transparency through benchmarking and voluntary disclosure.
A&L Goodbody outlines how the Low Carbon Regulations is a regulatory framework that lays down minimum requirements for two recent EU benchmark labels (See image below).
The Low Carbon Regulations aims to:
Other examples of international regulations and agreements that prevent greenwashing include:
Question 1(a) | (5 marks)
Explain how the Low Carbon Benchmark Regulations help prevent greenwashing and give an overview of a specific measures the regulation introduces to increase transparency towards sustainability.
Answer |
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Explanation: Fair 1m / Good 3m / Very good 5 m
Award marks for:
Question 1(b) | (5 marks)
Discuss an example of an international regulation or agreement that can prevent and stop greenwashing practices.
Answer |
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Explanation: Fair 1m / Good 3m / Very good 5 m
Award marks for:
The pivotal role of the corporate sector in promoting sustainable development and thwarting greenwashing practices cannot be overstated. It is crucial to note how corporations are often guilty of engaging in both intentional and unintentional forms of greenwashing.
‘Understanding and Preventing Greenwash‘ is a business guide which shows how voluntary disclosure and regulations might be problematic. Companies have a significant stake in how they engage in greenwashing; hence, they have created a manual on how to behave and communicate more effectively to avoid risk. Therefore, this business guide can be considered a manual for engaging in greenwashing practices ‘successfully’.
Cautionary Note:
The graph to the right outlines the different types of greenwash. The image contains four quadrants:
Source: Understanding and Preventing Greenwash: A Business Guide by BSR and Futerra Sustainability Communications (2009)
Quadrant | Key Message | Description |
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Quadrant A Misguided Greenwash |
This approach to greenwashing is not misguided because it is greenwashing. Instead, it is misguided because it uses a less optimal message to communicate greenwashing |
This category includes companies that have made substantial efforts to improve the environmental performance of their products and processes but need help communicating these efforts effectively. Companies that fall under the misguided greenwash quadrant typically make sweeping generalisations in their claims to try to sound environmentally friendly. Companies in this category have the potential to move towards the ‘Effective Environmental Communications’ quadrant by focusing on delivering their messages accurately and by backing up their impact with evidence/data. |
Quadrant B Unsubstantiated |
Your claims lack credibility and your brand is at risk if you are caught lying about your green credentials. | At first glance, these companies are doing commendable work, providing data to back up their claim. However, a deeper dive shows that the company deserves less credit than it seems. For example, companies in this category may lobby against the environmental policies they claim to uphold. Eventually, their false efforts will be uncovered and sent to the ‘Greenwash Noise’ quadrant. |
Quadrant C Effective Environmental Communication (Not Actually Greenwashing) |
This is the goal for where all businesses want to be.* | The business guide outlined how this is the goal we have for all companies. These businesses are improving their products and services' environmental and social performance, can back up their claims with evidence and communicate their efforts effectively to consumers. |
Quadrant D Greenwash Noise |
Communicating environmental efforts without backing them up with credentials (exaggerated or otherwise) will not benefit your business. |
In this case, a company claims to be green but does not have much to back up this claim, meaning these messages are not compelling to consumers.
Instead, these companies can move to the effective environmental communications category by assessing their impact throughout the value chain, developing and implementing an environmental strategy, and communicating these efforts accurately. |
*Being more effective in communicating greenwashing does not remove greenwashing as a barrier to achieving sustainable development.
Question 2(a) | (10 marks)
Introduce how the corporate sector plays a crucial role in (a) preventing greenwashing (b) engaging in greenwashing practices.
Answer |
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Explanation: Fair 1m / Good 3m / Very good 5 m
Award marks for:
Question 2(b) | (10 marks)
Discuss the ethical implications of the following cautionary note:
‘The corporate sector can use sustainable development tools, such as this anti-green-washing business guide, for morally upright or unethical purposes’.
Answer |
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Explanation: Fair 1m / Good 3m / Very good 5 m
Award marks for:
Question 2(c) | (15 marks)
Based on the Types of Greenwashing Matrix above, list and explain two steps a company can take to improve its sustainability messaging and move towards Effective Environmental Communication.
Answer |
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Explanation:
Award marks for:
A Civil society group is an umbrella term that describes an organisation independent of the government that operates to promote social, cultural, and/or political goals. These groups can include charities, advocacy organisations, social movements, and community-based organisations.
Examples of well-known civil society organisations include Amnesty International, the International Trade Union Confederation, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Greenpeace and the Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
Under this umbrella term, there are three broad sectors: *The first two can be used interchangeably:
Civic society groups are organisations which promote civic engagement and participation.
These groups aim to increase citizens’ participation in voting, civic education, and community service. Examples of civic society organisations include Jigsaw, Threshold and the Irish Men’s Sheds Association.
A non-governmental organisation (NGO) is a not-for-profit group that functions independently of any government, established to address a particular social or environmental issue.
The structures of NGOs vary considerably. One categorisation of NGOs by The World Bank identifies non-governmental organisations under two broad groups:
Question 1(c) (5 marks)
What is the difference between a civic society group and a civil society group?
Explain their respective goals and give an example of each.
Answer |
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Explanation: Fair 1m / Good 3m / Very good 5m
Award marks for:
In the article Why NGOs top the list of those advancing sustainable development on the corporate industry website Greenbiz, Eric Whan of the the consultancy firm GlobeScan points out how
‘sustainability leadership by non-governmental organisations are considered the type of organisation that has contributed the most toward sustainable development since the Rio Earth Summit’.
Furthermore, the article analyses findings from a recent sustainability leadership study involving eight hundred and seven qualified sustainable development experts in 78 countries, of which, results ranked NGOs as leading sustainable development advancement.
Finally, respondents were asked,
‘How would you rate the performance of each of the following types of organisations in terms of its contribution to progress on sustainable development since the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio?’.
As globalisation has advanced, the power of governments relative to corporations in the private sector has declined. Moreover, countries have declined in governance while organisations have increased. As a result, companies have found it easier to put them under pressure.
The article also describes how experts point to NGOs as making the most significant contribution to advancing progress on sustainable development because:
‘they aim to act in the public interest and activate issues of public immediacy or ones the science says need immediate attention, regardless of current public profile’.
NGOs have a level of autonomy that allows them to draw attention to areas that may be neglected by the government due to their ability to focus on broader problems.
Examples of leading non-governmental organisations:
The civil society groups listed above promote sustainable development and work to prevent greenwashing in different ways. Below is a snapshot of how one of the civil society groups listed above works to prevent greenwashing practices.
The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) works with companies to develop and implement sustainable practices and certifications, such as the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, which the WWF claims is:
‘the only credible forest certification system that ensures environmentally and socially responsible management of forests’.
Question 2(d) | (10 marks)
Introduce the term Civil Society Groups. Explain how they can contribute to sustainable development and identify an example of a group that has a complementary or oppositional stance to greenwashing.
Answer |
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Explanation: Fair 3m / Good 5m / Very good 10m
Award marks for:
Question 2(e) | (15 marks)
Look at Figure 1: Greatest Contribution to Sustainable Development Since the 1992 Summit / % of Experts, 2019 (above).
What conclusions can you draw from the claim that NGOs make the most significant contribution to advancing progress on Sustainable Development?
Answer |
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Explanation:
Award marks for:
There are many ways individual consumers and local communities can stand at the forefront of sustainability efforts, including by identifying greenwashing practices and making informed decisions. Therefore, also significantly contributing towards advancing the 2030 sustainable development goals.
To address how individuals can take action to address sustainable development, let us analyse the article ‘Are you environmentally conscious enough to differentiate between greenwashed and sustainable items?‘ by researchers Mariusz Urbański and Adnan ul Haque published in the journal ‘Sustainability’ in 2020. The article outlines how:
Two recommendations by researchers Mariusz Urbański and Adnan ul Haque based on their findings are as follows:
Vague | False | Irrelevant |
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Vague labels are used by companies to intentionally mislead and confuse consumers. Examples: Labels using words such as: ‘non-toxic’, ‘all-natural’, or ‘green’, without providing a description or evidence to back up the label. |
In this context, a false label refers to when a company makes ‘false, meaningless or untrue eco-claims. Examples: ‘Certified Green’ that are not verified or accredited by independent third-party organisations. |
An irrelevant greenwash claim is technically true but lacks any meaningful environmental impact. Elaboration: Such claims are used by companies to make their products seem eco-friendly but do not provide actual benefits to the environment. |
Green Advertising represents:
‘communication about products produced in an environmentally-friendly manner (made from recycled and recyclable components or manufactured more energy efficient) or communication about an organisation’s services or general commitment to the sustainability of certain brands.
– Mariusz Urbański and Adnan ul Haque (2020)
Green advertisements can refer to either real or perceived environmental sustainability.
One of history’s best-known examples of a greenwashing campaign is Chevron’s ‘People Do’ campaign launched in 1985. The adverts show Chevron employees protecting wildlife such as bears, butterflies and sea turtles.
However, most of the environmental programmess promoted in the campaign were compulsory, with the irony that the programme’s potential benefits were labelled insignificant in the face of the cost of running the programme.
A Guardian report in 2016 on the troubling evolution of corporate greenwashing noted that environmental campaigners refer to the People Do campaign as the gold standard in greenwashing.
Question 1(d) | (5 marks)
Define greenwash label claims and give an example and overview of one of the following greenwash label claims: vague, false, and irrelevant greenwash claims.
Answer |
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Explanation: Fair 1m / Good 3m / Very good 5m
Award marks for:
Question 1(e) | (5 marks)
Identify the five core bodies involved in engaging, preventing and stopping Greenwashing practices.
Then, argue how the collective efforts of all bodies are [or are not] the key to shifting development toward sustainability.
Answer |
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Explanation: Fair 1m / Good 3m / Very good 5m
Award marks for:
Ireland aims to
‘reduce carbon emissions (greenhouse gas emissions) by 51% by 2030 and achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2050. For Ireland to achieve a climate-neutral economy by 2050, businesses must and are encouraged by the Government to invest in a greener future through sustainable products, services and business models’.
– Supports for businesses going green, Citizens Advice Centre
In light of this quote, a non-exhaustive list of the core roles government plays in promoting sustainable development and preventing greenwashing practices includes:
These areas are explored in the section below.
Greenwashing practices undermine SDG 12, which has a focus on Responsible Consumption and Production.
Additionally, based indicator 12.8, indicators of success for addressing greenwashing practices can be measured by the extent to which they provide and mainstream:
(i) Global citizenship education
(ii) Education for sustainable development
*This also includes climate change education.
Goal: Ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development to live in harmony with nature by 2030.
This interactive map published by OurWorldinData.org is an ‘index from 0 (worst) to 1 (best) measuring the extent to which countries can deliver quality Global Citizenship Education and Education for Sustainable Development to learners.
Three examples incentives and subsidies the Irish Government offer members of the general public include:
Summer Work Programme
In September 2022, the government announced plans to ‘pay for solar panels for schools as part of the summer works programme next year. The money will come from the Department of the Environment’s Climate Action Fund, but the Summer Works Scheme for schools will distribute funding to schools with a new climate focus’.
Moreover, the solar panels will help to reduce energy costs for schools and will also help the education sector meet its emissions reductions targets. The 2021 Climate Action Plan set a target of 51% reduction by 2030.
Quick Fact: The initiative is estimated to produce at least 24 MW of renewable generating capacity
These incentives and subsidies encourage individuals, schools and organisations to adopt sustainable practices and technologies and support the transition to a low-carbon economy. Additionally, the Irish government aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve resource efficiency, and create a more sustainable and resilient society by providing financial support for sustainable development.
Question 1(f) | (5 marks)
Discuss the role of the government in promoting sustainable development and preventing greenwashing practices. Provide an example of government incentives or subsidies to promote sustainable development.
Answer |
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Explanation: Fair 1m / Good 3m / Very good 5m
Award marks for:
Join us for part 3 of the greenwashing series which will look at case studies of greenwashing in practice and sample lesson activities.
A workshop based on the Greenwashing guidebook was led by Rachel Elizabeth Kendrick on the 11th of May 2023 from 4-5pm.
The following individuals were particularly important in compiling this part of the handbook.
The following resources were particularly important in compiling this part of the greenwashing guidebook
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