Dec 19 2009
Greenwashing?
So, I’m sitting around recovering from hip surgery and watching a LOT of TV these days…in fact, was watching the ESPN broadcast of the Kansas-Michigan “Green Game” this afternoon. I know labeling things “green” has become the super-hip thing to do over the last 4-5 years, but this was the first time I had seen a college basketball game broadcast labeled this way. ESPN did a few nice features during the broadcast about sustainability efforts at KU. Kermit the Frog even did a little enviro-intro for the game! If curious, you can read more about the good work going on at KU and events associated with the game at these two sites:
http://www.freep.com/article/20091215/BLOG14/91215028/-1/rss07
http://www.wibw.com/sports/headlines/79333402.html
You all (students) may not realize that before about five years ago, green was just a color to most folks. The use of the term “green” (for eco-friendly actions) in advertising and entertainment areas has really grown exponentially since then. For example, I know NBC and Fox networks have each done a “green week” for at least the last two years. They even have popular stars do public service announcements about recycling or energy conservation during commercial breaks. Why? Well, some call it “greenwashing.” What’s that, you ask? Here’s a definition:
Greenwashing is the unjustified appropriation of environmental virtue by a company, an industry, a government, a politician or even a non-government organization to create a pro-environmental image, sell a product or a policy, or to try and rehabilitate their standing with the public and decision makers after being embroiled in controversy.
So, why is what NBC or Fox or ESPN doing considered sorta sly? Well…do you think the network executives are doing it for the network or us (or both)? You decide…Here are a few websites of big companies that you can check for yourself:
BP or “Beyond Petroleum” is saving the world? Have you seen this slick cartoon ad campaign on TV? Check out the “green” gas station:
http://www.bp.com/heliospower/modularhome.do?categoryId=2210&contentId=7030154
NBC Green Week:
Finally, here are a few “watchdog” sites that monitor greenwashing:
Sourcewatch (that’s where I found the definition above):
http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Greenwashing
Greenwashing.net
Corpwatch:
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?list=type&type=102
So, be a smart consumer, not all that is green is good. ANY group can claim to be green-there is no government standard! Love to discuss any of this with any of you here or in class one day…can you think of other examples you’ve seen?
Well, I think this is really ridiculous how companies think it’s okay to be “green” when they’re really the ones who are affecting the environment so negatively. I think these companies are doing this merely because they want to justify their actions by falsely addressing the true effects. It’s just to say “We’re not doing anything wrong! Look, we CARE! We’re GREEN!”
Is the basketball game situation the same as BP oil company? Did you check those links?
A new federal crackdown coming on greenwashing?
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=greenwashing-environmental-marketing