What does "greenwashing" mean?

Greenwashing refers to the marketing practice in which companies give a false impression of their environmental efforts or misrepresent their sustainability initiatives to gain a competitive edge or improve their public image. The term suggests that rather than making significant changes to their operations or product lines to genuinely promote sustainability, a company may simply engage in superficial or deceptive marketing tactics.

This practice can involve the use of vague, misleading claims about eco-friendliness, the emphasis on minor eco-friendly initiatives while ignoring more harmful practices, or the use of imagery and buzzwords that imply sustainability without substantive backing. As a result, consumers may believe that they are choosing environmentally responsible products or services, when in reality, the company's actual practices do not align with this perception.

The other options do not accurately reflect the definition of greenwashing. A legitimate commitment to sustainability involves meaningful efforts and transparency. The practice of using logos to promote environmentalism could be part of a genuine sustainability campaign, but it can also be exploited in greenwashing. Lastly, while government regulations may address corporate environmental practices, they are not synonymous with the concept of greenwashing, which is primarily a marketing tactic.