header-logo header-logo

Don’t spin the greenwash

17 September 2021 / Caroline Greenwell , Peter Carlyon
Issue: 7948 / Categories: Features , Environment
printer mail-detail
57437
Caroline Greenwell & Peter Carlyon consider the issue of companies exaggerating their green credentials
  • Looks at extent and impact of greenwashing by companies, reputational damage where they’re caught out and potential regulatory action.

Sustainability and environmentalism are featuring at the core of brands’ identities with increasing prevalence. With environmentally conscious consumers demanding greener products, brands have been under more pressure than ever to publicise their environmental credentials. This pressure looks set to increase with research by data analytics company Kantar in September 2020 ‘Who cares? Who does?’ suggesting sustainability has become a bigger concern for consumers since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

All talk no action?

Hand in hand with this consumer pressure, comes a temptation to exaggerate green credentials, to which some brands appear to be bowing. It is not new for bold, current and memorable marketing to be used to attract consumers to particular products and services but when the headlines include net-zero targets and claims of ‘plastic free’ and ‘recycled materials only’, to what

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Kingsley Napley—Claire Green

Kingsley Napley—Claire Green

Firm announces appointment of chief legal officer

Weightmans—Emma Eccles & Mark Woodall

Weightmans—Emma Eccles & Mark Woodall

Firm bolsters Manchester insurance practice with double partner appointment

Gilson Gray—Linda Pope

Gilson Gray—Linda Pope

Partner joins family law team inLondon

NEWS
The landmark Supreme Court’s decision in Johnson v FirstRand Bank Ltd—along with Rukhadze v Recovery Partners—redefine fiduciary duties in commercial fraud. Writing in NLJ this week, Mary Young of Kingsley Napley analyses the implications of the rulings
Barristers Ben Keith of 5 St Andrew’s Hill and Rhys Davies of Temple Garden Chambers use the arrest of Simon Leviev—the so-called Tinder Swindler—to explore the realities of Interpol red notices, in this week's NLJ
Mazur v Charles Russell Speechlys [2025] has upended assumptions about who may conduct litigation, warn Kevin Latham and Fraser Barnstaple of Kings Chambers in this week's NLJ. But is it as catastrophic as first feared?
Lord Sales has been appointed to become the Deputy President of the Supreme Court after Lord Hodge retires at the end of the year
Limited liability partnerships (LLPs) are reportedly in the firing line in Chancellor Rachel Reeves upcoming Autumn budget
back-to-top-scroll