Greenwashing
Green claims risk · Environmental misrepresentation
Greenwashing is making an environmental claim that overstates, obscures or misrepresents the environmental benefit of a product, service or organisation.
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Simply put
What it means in ordinary work
It is a sustainability claim that is misleading or unsupported. The problem can be in the wording, the evidence or what the claim leaves out.
Why it matters
Procurement can repeat supplier claims in tenders, contracts and public communication. Unsupported claims create legal, reputational and trust risk.
A hypothetical in practice
A hypothetical buyer asks a supplier to substantiate a 'carbon neutral' product claim with a defined boundary, reduction actions and offset details. The claim is rewritten to reflect the evidence.
Common pitfalls
A certification logo is not a complete answer. Check the scope and what it actually covers.
Broad terms such as eco-friendly or sustainable are difficult to verify without specific criteria.
Scope and limits
General awareness only. Environmental claims are governed by consumer, advertising and sector rules that vary by jurisdiction.
Regional lens
How this lands where you work
The global explanation is canonical. Regional notes are additive, separately sourced and shown with their own review state. They never replace the global meaning.
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As-of date for date-sensitive regional content: 5 November 2026. Read the review policy.