What is greenwashing?

Greenwashing is a technique used by companies to falsely claim sustainability by misleading consumers about their production practices. It comes in various forms, but here are some things to look out for: 

Don’t buy into buzzwords like ‘conscious’ or ‘ethical’ or ‘environmentally friendly’ if a brand doesn’t back up the claims with any real information. These buzzwords have no legal meaning, so companies can’t be held accountable for misleading consumers. Many companies will produce a fraction of their product sustainably but advertise themselves as a sustainable company. Many companies will focus all their publicity around specific aspects of their practice, like using recycled polyester, but hide the fact that their product is made in factories that don’t pay living wages. That’s greenwashing.