Greenwashing: Appearance, illusion and the future of ‘green’ capitalism

Williams, Joe ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2125-8951 2024. Greenwashing: Appearance, illusion and the future of ‘green’ capitalism. Geography Compass 18 (1) , e12736. 10.1111/gec3.12736

Preview

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (476kB) | Preview

Abstract

Greenwashing is a well-understood concept, describing the use of false or misleading claims and symbolism to give an impression of a company or organisation's commitment to environmental protection and sustainability. While many environmental groups use the concept widely to criticise the ‘optics’ strategies of organisations wanting to improve their image while maintaining a business-as-usual approach, it has largely been ignored in Geography and related disciplines. This paper argues that we need to take greenwashing seriously. It develops a broad concept of greenwashing, suggesting that the processes of obscuring social and ecological relations via greenwashing are central to the (dis)functioning of contemporary capitalism. A critical theory of greenwashing, therefore, is not simply about challenging ‘bad actors’, but is an essential part of a wider critique of ‘green’ capitalism and Sustainable Development.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	1749-8198
Funders:	EPSRC
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	5 January 2024
Date of Acceptance:	3 January 2024
Last Modified:	16 Apr 2024 10:20
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/165306

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item