Greenwashing in Fashion

Greenwashing misleads consumers into thinking that what they are buying or ordering is better for the environment when in reality it may not be. Sometimes greenwashing claims aren’t just misleading, but downright untrue. As we've seen, greenwashing isn’t just limited to products or articles of clothing, but can extend to packaging as well. The practice ultimately erodes customers’ purchasing power and customer confidence. Common recyclable materials which include plastic or pre-used fabric are increasingly making their way into our clothing. But, it is rare that a product is made up of entirely recyclable materials. Companies spend top dollar on marketing themselves as eco-friendly when in reality they may be eco-hostile. Perhaps a company has had some environmentally-friendly efforts but overall their business model remains persistently climate-averse. There are instances when greenlabelling is legitimate, although there other times when the term is used in reference to a brand giving misleading or false environmental labels to give the appearance of sustainability. In recent memory, various fashion brands as well as celebrity brands have been accused of this. Here's what to do a double take (and some more research) on: 1)Green "eco" colours used in packaging 2)Symbols or images of nature 3)Recycling symbols and 4)Fictitious certifications slapped on packaging