Greenwashing – the deceptive tactics behind environmental claims
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On November 19, the AmCham Sustainability Committee organized a meeting on greenwashing and its deceptive tactics behind environmental claims.
Greenwashing is becoming a critical issue nowadays, especially as consumer demands for sustainable solutions grow. In Poland, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has significantly increased its oversight and enforcement activities against companies that exaggerate or falsely advertise the ecological attributes of their products. Additionally, NGOs have also recently intensified activities in the area of consumer claims for false advertising.
Greenwashing does not have a legal definition, but understanding its different types may be crucial for consumers and investors to make informed decisions, hold companies accountable, and keep the market clear of untruthful promises. There is a lack of regulations in Polish law that would deal with greenwashing in detail, but this does not mean that legal steps cannot be taken against it based on existing regulations.
On the other hand, companies engaging in greenwashing must be cautious about the facts they reveal, as they risk damaging their reputation, losing consumer trust, and facing legal challenges. To avoid greenwashing, they should support all statements with verifiable data and be transparent about their environmental efforts, even if those efforts are still in progress.
Thank you to our speakers, Angelika Szufel and Marcin Krzemień, PhD, for the presentation, and Julian Krzyżanowski, Chair of the AmCham Sustainability Committee, for picking up the topic and moderating the discussion.
SPEAKERS
Angelika Szufel
Marcin Krzemień
