Full Research and Media List
Greenwashing 3.0: Why addressing greenwashing remains as important as ever
A new report outlines the evolution of corporate greenwashing and approaches for addressing the issue.
No End in Sight? A Greenwash Review and Research Agenda
Greenwashing tactics have evolved over time. In this review article, you’ll learn about:
(1) The three approaches companies have taken to greenwashing over time – static communication, dynamic management, and narratives about the future.
(2) A model of Corporate Miscommunication, which defines how firms miscommunicate with different stakeholders and which stakeholders are most at risk of deception.
Employees’ Response to Corporate Greenwashing
Employees are increasingly seeking employers with good environmental performance, and using employee activism to push for change. This research explores the impact of greenwashing on employees, including:
(1) How greenwashing leads to employee mistrust and, in turn, higher turnover.
(2) How an employee’s level of environmental education moderates their reactions to greenwashing.
An Integrated Framework to Assess Greenwashing
It can be difficult to determine whether a specific practice or communication is greenwashing or not. This research offers a framework to help you:
(1) Assess the legitimacy of green claims from various actors, including companies, government agencies, non-profits, and international pledges.
(2) Assess the legitimacy of net zero commitments and actions.
(3) Avoid greenwashing in your own practices and communication.
The Means and End of Greenwash
The number of environmental claims that companies make has increased rapidly in recent years – so has the occurrence of greenwashing. This review article will help you understand:
(1) The definition of greenwashing.
(2) A range of practices that companies use to greenwash.
Greenwash vs. Brownwash: Exaggeration and Undue Modesty in Corporate Sustainability Disclosure
To truly understand greenwashing, one must understand what motivates corporate disclosure decisions. This article:
(1) Describes and tests factors that motivate environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosure. Those factors include output growth, deregulation, profit, and external scrutiny.
(2) Identifies a new phenomenon, called brownwashing, whereby companies are deliberately modest in their ESG disclosure.