Part 5/9:
The Seven Sins of Greenwashing
Further illustrations of greenwashing can be found in the framework established by the environmental marketing company TerraChoice, which identified Seven Sins of Greenwashing.
Hidden Trade-offs: Claims about sustainability that overlook serious environmental impacts, like Starbucks’ straw-free lids, which actually use more plastic than before.
No Proof: Companies may assert their products are "green" without offering verifiable support.
Vagueness: Broad, nonspecific claims that lack meaning, e.g., “made with recycled materials.”
Irrelevance: Environmental claims that, while true, provide no real benefit, such as CFC-free refrigerators—CFCs were banned long ago.