The Sustainable Business Leader Program (SBLP) is a technical assistance and certification program that helps businesses make real environmental changes and provide customers with a trustworthy label. Because the concept of being ‘green’ is increasingly dominating the business world in the last decade, mostly in MEDCs (More Economically Developed Countries), businesses have been busy trying to manufacture their products in a more sustainable way. However, many businesses are unethical and they simply advertise that they are selling sustainable products. Such false labelling is called ‘greenwashing’ and it is highly unethical behaviour. However, it is difficult to prevent, as many firms have a set goal of maximizing profits, that they lose sight of customer satisfaction and job satisfaction.
In my opinion, no label is completely honest as there is also the tendency to exaggerate, to stretch the truth so as to increase sales. After all, all companies are profit-maximizing. At this point in the green revolution, the concept is being green is achievable but perhaps not cost-efficient. This could potentially be even more damaging to the environment if businesses lied about the quality and process of making their products. So how do we prevent false advertising and open their eyes to the real reason why we are being green? We must project the outcome of greenwashing: no good can come of this, and once consumers are made aware of false labelling, there is a 71% chance that they’ll take their business elsewhere. So I agree with this blog that awareness must be spread so that true sustainable businesses can develop.
(Source: http://sustainablebusinessleader.org/green-or-just-greenwashing-which-labels-mean-something, http://www.ourbreathingplanet.com/greenwashing-et-al/)
(response to external blog)