Talk:Greenwashing

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The content of Greenscamming was merged into Greenwashing on 20 November 2020. The former page's history now serves to provide attribution for that content in the latter page, and it must not be deleted as long as the latter page exists. For the discussion at that location, see its talk page.

Archives (Index)

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Some Proposed Changes

Hello, I am employed by Boston University's Fineman & Pappas Law Libraries. After reviewing this Wikipedia page, I believe that information from one of our faculty's scholarship might provide a valuable addition to this page. I would appreciate it if this requested edit could be reviewed.

This edit request by an editor with a conflict of interest has now been answered.

Add missing citation to this sentence in the article (second paragraph of the article): "Many corporate structures use greenwashing as a way to repair public perception of their brand."^[1]

Cf2022 (talk) 18:45, 24 January 2021 (UTC)Cf2022[reply]

 Done RandomCanadian (talk / contribs) 02:00, 29 January 2021 (UTC)[reply]

References

1. Condon, Madison. "Climate Change's New Ally: Big Finance". Boston Review.

Wiki Education assignment: HIEA 140 REMOTE China since 1978

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Wiki Education assignment: Environmental Politics

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Wiki Education assignment: Research Process and Methodology - FA24 - Sect 200 - Thu

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Wiki Education assignment: HNRS 2000Critical Analysis and Social Responsibility

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Conflict of Interest -

This edit request by an editor with a conflict of interest was declined. A reviewer felt that this edit would not improve the article.

• What I think should be changed (include citations): As this author of this peer-reviewed article, I have a direct conflict of interest. This flowchart and its caption information will be valuable for readers of the greenwashing page. Thank you for your consideration. The file is here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Greenwashing_diagnistic_flowchart.png

The reference can be, for example: Spaniol, M. J., Danilova-Jensen, E., Nielsen, M., Rosdahl, C. G., & Schmidt, C. J. (2024). Defining Greenwashing : A Concept Analysis. Sustainability, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16209055

The analysis finds six requirements necessary for identifying greenwashing: a claim on environmental performance by a private sector organization marketing a product or a service, which cannot be substantiated, made with deceptive intent, and done to establish a competitive advantage. Fulfilling these criteria warrants an accusation of greenwashing.

Greenwashing is a common accusation, but it is often misapplied because it is confused with similar-but-different concepts. To diagnose if a claim warrants an accusation of greenwashing, follow the flowchart.

• Why it should be changed:

The lack of a shared, operant definition for greenwashing has led to fragmented scholarly research, unclear guidelines for practice, inconsistent enforcement, and reactive policy frameworks, resulting in ineffective efforts to combat its growth. With the aim to prevent the further spread of greenwashing, the flowchart can distinguish similar but often conflated concepts from greenwashing. This can then help to organize accurate conversations, support investigations, categorize research, provide guidelines for practitioners, and support regulators’ case analysis.

MatthewSpaniol (talk) 12:46, 22 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

It's a picture of text that is espousing a particular POV - one that is not universally held among reliable sources on this subject. Per WP:UNDUE we must leave it out. - MrOllie (talk) 14:10, 22 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Which sources? And which POV? I remember I got flagged for weasel words once upon a time. 37.96.99.107 (talk) 17:17, 23 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

One could, for example, argue that there are performative definitions of greenwashing, but this won't get you very far, let alone any solution to the problem. The other argument that is a dead end is that we know greenwashing when we see it, but the flowchart provides nuance. 37.96.99.107 (talk) 17:20, 23 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Wikipedia isn't looking for a 'solution to the problem' (see WP:RIGHTGREATWRONGS). We should not illustrate an article that says that there is no universal definition with a picture of text which purports to present an algorithm for determining what is and isn't greenwashing. MrOllie (talk) 17:40, 23 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Agreed, WP can only report on what is already present in the world. Ideally there would a universally agreed definition of what greenwashing is but unfortunately there isn't. It would be great if the suggested flowchart was in major use in news reporting and legal cases but to my (admittedly limited) knowledge, it is not in such use. At best, we could only say here is one suggested definition/flowchart.  Stepho  talk  02:18, 24 February 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Wiki Education assignment: Multimedia Writing and Rhetoric

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— Assignment last updated by Mf200304 (talk) 14:42, 23 September 2025 (UTC)[reply]

Some proposed changes

After reviewing this article, I believe it would be helpful to add a section on the types of greenwashing. This could help readers to have a clearer understanding of the topic and the different ways greenwashing is practiced. Additionally, a section discussing Corporate Social Responsibility and how companies that engage in greenwashing often fail to meet genuine CSR standards could expand on the understanding of the broader ethical and business context. Mf200304 (talk) 15:25, 14 October 2025 (UTC)[reply]

COP29 and SOCAR

Hello, I would really like to add it myself but I'm not sure whether that'd be appropriate. We could add SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan Republic) Redirecting potential sponsors for COP29 (presided by Azerbaijan) to SOCAR which is an oil company. Check this source: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crmzvdn9e18o ~2025-36745-26 (talk) 03:54, 28 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]

I don't have a problem with you adding that. Also, your reference points to a similar thing for the year before: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-67508331  Stepho  talk  04:31, 28 November 2025 (UTC)[reply]