Greenwashing
Greenwashing (green sheen or greenwash) is a term associated with claims made about the environmentally beneficial characteristics of products, services and business practices that are misleading or exaggerated. A typical example might be a petrol station claiming it is 'green' because it has a wind turbine powering an advertising display.
The term greenwashing is a modification of the term whitewashing, which is associated with using false statements to hide unethical business practices.
Early greenwashing techniques first appeared in marketing in the 1960s. Environmentalist Jay Westerveld came up with the term ‘greenwashing’ in the 1980s. He used it in a paper to describe the false equivalency created by hotels that asked guests to reuse their towels to save the environment.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
Global BACS Market: analytics and optimisation
A BSRIA glance at building automation and control systems.
What it is and how to use it.
Types of insulating plaster by binder and insulant.
Investors in People: CIOB achieves gold
Reflecting a commitment to employees and members.
Scratching beneath the surface; a guide to selection.
ECA 2024 Apprentice of the Year Award
Entries open for submission until May 31.
UK gov apprenticeship funding from April 2024
Brief summary the policy paper updated in March.
For the World Autism Awareness Month of April.
70+ experts appointed to public sector fire safety framework
The Fire Safety (FS2) Framework from LHC Procurement.
Project and programme management codes of practice
CIOB publications for built environment professionals.
Sustainable development concepts decade by decade.
The regenerative structural engineer
A call for design that will repair the natural world.
Buildings that mimic the restorative aspects found in nature.
CIAT publishes Principal Designer Competency Framework
For those considering applying for registration as a PD.
Introducing or next Guest Editor Arun Baybars
Practising architect and design panel review member.