In honor of April Fool’s Day, The Green Life is proud to announce the 2012 edition of our report on greenwashing, “Don’t Be Fooled.” [SCROLL DOWN FOR SLIDESHOW]
Since the early days of greenwashing, companies have gotten a lot sneakier. They’re working hard to make themselves LOOK eco-friendly, when in truth they may be bad for the planet. Luckily, the truth is on our side. And we hope, with your help, that this report can help bring the truth out, hold the greenwashers accountable, and lead the way to a more sustainable economy in our future.
Download “Don’t Be Fooled” report (pdf)
Below, see the top greenwashers, ranked by more than 1000 votes online. Click on an image to learn about the top 10 picks:
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- #1 – American Natural Gas Alliance claims, in this ad, to be helping protect air, water, and land. But it’s pushing a dangerous new type of drilling across America, and fighting efforts to make it safer.
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- #2 – Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers claims, in this ad, that its toxic tailings are “like yogurt.” Can’t swallow that? It’s greenwashing!
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- #3 – Walmart has used a sustainability strategy to get lots of good press in recent years. But its core business is still unsustainable.
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- #4 – Fiji Water claims to be “carbon negative” and that “every drop is green.” In fact, the company bottles water in Fiji, ships it across the world, and creates lots of plastic waste. These claims are greenwashing.
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- #5 – CBS EcoAd allows any company – yes, even coal-burning utilities or SUV manufacturers – to pay extra for a leafy green logo superimposed on their TV ads
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- #6 – Malaysian Palm Oil Council claims to “cool the earth, clean the air, and fight against global warming.” In reality it contributes to massive deforestation.
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- #7 – The Sustainable Forestry Initiative labels wood and paper products. But the organization is funded almost entirely by industry, and many of their logos don’t actually certify that the wood is sustainable. It’s misleading; it’s greenwash.
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- #8 – Mazda partnered with The Lorax to sell an SUV. It’s not a hybrid, it’s not electric — but they gave it the fictional “Truffula Tree” certification. It’s greenwashing!
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