Have you noticed the expression “greenwashing” and you don’t know what that is supposed to mean? We’ll tell you what’s behind it and how you use it.
That means greenwashing: washing green, acting environmentally friendly
The term “greenwashing” is taken from English and literally means “green washing” or “green dyeing”. The term is a critical term for false PR practices that make a company appear greener than it is. “Greenwashing” is intended to have a consciously positive influence on the company’s image.
Origin of greenwashing
The term is made up of “green” and “washing”, which on the one hand should associate “green” in the sense of “environment” and on the other hand “wash clean”. The presentation of the company misleadingly suggests a “clean slate”. “Greenwashing” focuses on a vibe of sustainability, energy efficiency or CO2 neutrality.
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What does “Yeet” mean?
The expression is copied from the word composition “whitewashing”. “Greenwashing” was coined by the US environmental activist Jay Westervald in 1986. He criticized the hypocritical appeal of hotels to use towels “for the environment” several times, even though they are only concerned with the economic advantage and thus possible profit.
Greenwashing methods
Non-environmentally friendly companies, for example from the mining or food industry, try to do “greenwashing” not only through commercials and sponsoring. Campaigns are also used by misleading labels, vague statements (also from proponents such as influencers) or rebranding, i.e. changing the company name.
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