Which sectors are particularly susceptible to greenwashing?
Greenwashing is a problem in many industries - especially where sustainability is an important purchasing or investment factor. Companies often use vague terms (‘carbon neutral’, ‘environmentally friendly’) to portray themselves as greener than they actually are. Here are the industries that are particularly susceptible to greenwashing and why.
1. Fashion & textile industry - ‘Fast fashion in green’
Why susceptible?
- High consumption of resources (water, energy, chemicals).
- Many brands advertise with ‘sustainable collections’, while the majority of their production remains problematic.
- Labour conditions in the supply chain often remain opaque.
Typical greenwashing strategies:
- Sustainable collections’ with only a few environmentally friendly products.
- Recycling promises (‘Made from recycled plastic’) without disclosing the percentage.
- Own ‘green’ labels without external certification
2. Food & beverage industry - ‘Natural’ is not always sustainable
Why susceptible?
- A lot of packaging suggests closeness to nature (green leaves, animals) without any real sustainability.
- Labels such as ‘regional’ or ‘natural’ are often not clearly defined.
- Organic labels are sometimes misused without comprehensive ecological responsibility.
Typical greenwashing strategies:
- ‘Climate-neutral products’ through CO₂ compensation, without any actual reduction in emissions.
- ‘Palm oil-free’ as a sales argument, although other environmentally critical ingredients are included.
- Packaging made from ‘bioplastics’, which is often difficult to break down.
3. Automotive industry - ‘Green mobility’ with contradictions
Why susceptible?
- High resource consumption and CO₂ emissions during production (especially of electric cars).
- Promotion of ‘climate-friendly’ models, while the rest of the fleet continues to use fossil fuels
Typical greenwashing strategies:
- CO₂ compensation when buying a car without reducing the actual emissions.
- ‘Sustainable materials’ in the interior, although production remains resource-intensive overall.
- Emission values glossed over under laboratory conditions.
Other areas that are particularly susceptible to greenwashing:
Energy industry: ‘Green electricity’ with fossil roots
Cosmetics & care products: ‘Clean beauty’ without clear standards
Aviation & tourism industry: ‘Green travel’ with a high carbon footprint
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