영어회화 - Greenwashing

What is Greenwashing?

: A company that pretends to care about environment BUT actually don't.

~인 체하다

: 녹색(Green)과 세탁(White Washing)의 합성어

 친환경적이지 않은 제품을 친환경적인 것처럼 표시·광고하는 행위를 뜻함.

사진: Unsplash 의 Mika Baumeister

Example)
Volkswagen's falsification of pollution tests exposed the issue of false environmental advertising.

https://www.lawtimes.co.kr/news/156725

[판결] '친환경 허위광고' 폭스바겐에 과징금 373억원 확정

https://www.economist.com/leaders/2015/09/26/dirty-secrets

Dirty secrets

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Q1. Do you make a lot of effort to buy products that are environmentally friendly?

Hoenstly, I'm not someone who puts a lot of effort into buying environmentally friendly products.

Considering the environment in my action is bringing my own tumbler when I go to starbucks.

I'm not doing it for environment.

I just used a tumbler to take advantage of the starbucks rewards benefits.

It may not be for the sole purpose of the environment but it does contribute to environmental sustainability.

 

Q2. Do you trust companies that advertise their brands as environmentally friendly?

I'm not completely convined, but i believe their claims of making efforts for the environment.

 

The greenwashing tactics of some companies are undermining consumer trust in eco-friendly products.

일부 기업들의 초록색 가면으로 친환경 제품에 대한 소비자의 신뢰가 훼손되고 있다.

are undermining 훼손시키다

 

Strict guidelines for eco-friendly products need to be established as a result.

때문에 엄격한 친환경제품 가이드라인을 세워야 합니다.

 

I am aware that Starbucks uses eco-friendly paper straws, but they also sell a significant amount of promotional plastic products every year.

 

https://www.asiae.co.kr/article/2023060810312120841

공정위 친환경 '가짜 광고' 막는다...그린워싱 가이드라인 행정예고

https://www.mk.co.kr/news/contributors/10548100

[매경춘추] 친환경 위장 그린워싱 - 매일경제

 

https://www.kukinews.com/newsView/kuk202304050167

"환경 이용해 소비자 기만"…규제 어려운 '그린워싱' 기업

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Suddenly, companies that never seemed to care about the environment are keen to jump on the bandwagon and sell us an eco-friendly yoga tube top made of sustainable material or some such thing.

are keen to : ~하고 싶어 하다

jump on the bandwagon : 시류에 편승하다, 유행에 편승하다

 

However, it's not always clear which products are truly  good for the environment and which are not.

 

That's because some devious companies pratice something calles "greenwashing."

devious : 정직하지 못한, 기만적인 = sneaky 교활한, underhanded,or deceitful (not "mislead)

 

Greenwashing is the act of misleading consumers into thinking that a company's products is good for the environment or exaggerating how eco-friendly it is.

misleading : 호도하는, 오해하는 = deceive속이다,기만하다 or misrepresent the truth

exaggerate : 과장하다