Manipulation and fake news

in relation with Green Industry

Grigore Karina Nicoleta

Munteanu Catalin Andrei
Ciocan Mihaita Stefan
 What it means?
Greenwashing is the method of developing a false
impression or providing incorrect information about how a
company's products are better for the environment.
Greenwashing is when a firm makes an unfounded claim to
trick customers into thinking its products are environmentally
healthy.

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 How did it all start?

The word "greenwashing" first appeared in the

1960s, and as interest in environmental
protection increased, so did awareness of the
practice, to the point that the term was included
in the Oxford English Dictionary by the end of
the decade. [1980]

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. .
 What are the Green products?
A green product is a sustainable product designed to
minimize its environmental impact during its whole life-cycle
and even after it’s of no use.
Characteristics:
• Grown without the use of toxic chemicals.
• Can be recycled, reused and are bio the gradable.
• Come with eco-friendly packing.
• Use the least amount of resources.
• Have reduced carbon and plastic footprints.

.
 Green ,or is it ?

With the desire to have a healthier life, we are looking for services and products that
promise to be environmentally friendly. It is a trend that many brands take advantage
of to build a "clean"image. The phenomenon is called "greenwashing" and is, in fact,
just another wave of fake news, in an ocean of misinformation.„ Green" doesn't
always mean eco-friendly or organic.
• 50 % of the ECO BIO don’t actually protect the enviorment or consumer health

Content doesn’t always means eco-friendly

For example a big enterprise may plant a lot of trees but
they throw their plastic in the ocean.
The clothes may be made from materials obtained via eco-
friendly means however said materials are near impossible to
recycle
 Greenwashing in Romania
The results of a thorough website inspection, which is conducted every
year to discover violations of EU consumer law in online marketplaces,
have been released by the European Commission and national consumer
agencies. This year, the verification focused for the first time on
environmental disinformation, sometimes known as "greenwashing," a
practice in which companies pretend to be doing more for the environment
than they actually are.

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 “
Greenwashing in Romania
The use of the term 'ecological' in different sectors of
activity, such as clothes, cosmetics, and
housekeeping equipment, was examined in this official
search. National consumer authorities have cause to
suspect that statements were exaggerated, incorrect,
or misleading in 42 percent of cases and that these
claims might be characterized as unfair commercial
practices under EU laws.

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 Greenwashing in Romania

The most disinformation was discovered in certain well-

known and well-presented brands on the Romanian market,
with 96 percent and 89 percent of the claims falling under the
category of "greenwashing.„
According to a survey published in 2021 by shifting markets
Foundation in Europe, "greenwashing" in the modern
industry resulted in 39 percent of the items evaluated having
"green" labels attached, with 59 percent of them being
examples of "greenwashing."

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 Greenwashing in Romania

.
"Organic" products are not always as healthy as we would want.
According to the European Commission, four out of ten businesses
use the term "green" in an overblown, deceptive, or misleading
manner.
There are more misconceptions regarding organic fruits and
vegetables. How organic are the worm fruits, and how do organic
veggies affect the slimming treatment?
1.Organic vegetables are produced without pesticides
2.Weight loss is aided by organic foods.
3.Salmonella and E. coli are found in organic foods.
4.Bio products are attacked by worms

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5.The seal of approval from the Ministry
of Agriculture
The true green products are more expensive and
they have a special stamp issued by the Ministry of
10 Agriculture.
How To Spot Greenwashing
1. Vague Buzzwords
When perusing the grocery store you’ve
probably noticed packaging labeled “all-natural”
or “eco-friendly.” Even processed foods and
chemically harsh cleaning supplies commonly
boast this branding. Unfortunately, these
phrases are often meaningless.
2. Idyllic Imagery
Idyllic imagery is the visual equivalent of
vague buzzwords. Greenwashed packaging will
often adhere to a very particular aesthetic.
3. Lack of Transparency
Lack of transparency is a particularly useful
way to
detect greenwashed fast fashion brands. Most
ethical and sustainable brands are proud of
their
company values and will devote an entire
section of
their website to explain their practices and
standards.
4. . Rely on the right resources
There are a whole load of handy sites, books
and
social pages out there to help you with your
eco
journey.
 Sins of Greenwashing
• Sin of the hidden trade-off
A claim suggesting that a product is green based
on a narrow set of attributes without attention to
other important environmental issues.
• Sin of no proof
An environmental claim is not substantiated by
easily accessible supporting information or by a
reliable third-party certification.
• Sin of vagueness
A claim that is so poorly defined or broad that its
real meaning is likely to be misunderstood by the
consumer. All-natural is an example.
• Sin of worshiping false labels
A product that, through either words or images, gives
the impression of third-party endorsement where no
such endorsement exists; fake labels, in other words.
• Sin of irrelevance
An environmental claim that may be truthful but is
unimportant or unhelpful for consumers seeking
environmentally preferable products.
• Sin of lesser of two evils
A claim that may be true within the product category but
that risks distracting the consumer from the greater
environmental impacts of the category as a whole.
• Sin of fibbing
Environmental claims that are simply false.
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Thank you for listening

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