Which one of the following best describes the term “greenwashing”?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2022 Prelims]
(a) Conveying a false impression that a company’s products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound.
(b) Non-inclusion of ecological/ environmental costs in the Annual Financial Statements of a country.
(c) Ignoring the disastrous ecological consequences while undertaking infrastructure development.
(d) Making mandatory provisions for environmental costs in a government project/programme.
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
- Greenwashing is when an organization spends more time and money on marketing itself as environmentally friendly than on actually minimizing its environmental impact.
- It’s a deceitful marketing gimmick intended to mislead consumers who prefer to buy goods and services from environmentally conscious brands.