Green products

Environmental claims of a greener product can include one or more of the following aspects (non-exhaustive list): 

• is manufactured from toxic-free, renewable, or sustainable ingredients 
• can be recyclable, compostable, or reusable
• its packaging can be recyclable, compostable, or reusable
• has reduced or zero carbon footprint
• has reduced or zero plastic footprint
• is energy efficient (uses less energy)
• is sourced or produced locally

Green businesses

For a company, these claims can refer to good environmental practices in the operation of their business (non-exhaustive list):

• reduce energy and water consumption
• reduce GHG emissions
• reduce air emissions (SOx, NOx, fine particulate matter, etc.) 
• reduce and/or recycle waste 
• use sustainable raw materials (e.g.: renewable, recycled)
• use renewable energy
• design and produce “green” products

Greenwashing‍

The terms “eco-friendly”, “green”, “sustainable” can be misused in corporate communications promulgating an image of environmental responsibility, which in fact is unfounded or intentionally misleading.

How to select “green” products and services? 

It is not possible to define a perfectly “green” product or service due to the complexity and interconnection of systems (people, air, water, land, wildlife...). Generally-speaking, the greenest products are those where all materials and energy used in the making, usage, and disposal of the product is contained in a small eco-system, and without degrading it. It is important that the consumer (business or individual) remains alert about environmental claims and remembers to favour local products, made from renewable/sustainable resources, and for which the discard becomes a resource for someone else to use (reusable, compostable, or recyclable). 

Ecolabel

An ecolabel is a label issued by an organisation, which certifies that a product or service meets a set of requirements. Those requirements may cover one or several environmental aspects of a product or service. Ecolabels aims to champion better products and facilitate the decision making process of the consumer (individual or business) – Ecolabels in Singapore.

Impacts of greenwashing

Greenwashing has detrimental effects on our climate and public trust, as it enables harmful practices to persist under a 'green' façade. This deception undermines consumer confidence in sustainability efforts, leads to financial repercussions for organisations, and allows corporations to evade responsibility for their environmental impact by shifting the blame onto individuals. Addressing greenwashing is important to ensure genuine progress towards a sustainable future.

Regulatory guidelines

Singapore has regulations to protect against greenwashing: 

• The Misrepresentation Act and the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act (CPFTA) to protect consumers from misleading green marketing and deceptive business practices
• Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS)
• National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (ASAS)

Violators may face fines or imprisonment. Additionally, since January 1, 2022, listed firms on the Singapore Exchange (SGX) must comply with new climate disclosure regulations, using 27 basic indicators to evaluate their ESG compliance consistently.

Further details can be found here.

Related Terms

Bluewashing is "to tout a business or organization's commitment to social responsibilities and to use this perception for public relations and economic gain" (Collins).

Greenhushing refers to "businesses and organisations that opt to stay quiet about their climate strategies because they fear being called out for greenwashing, or named and shamed if they fall short" (eco-business).

Greenscamming is "the practice of giving environmentally friendly names to groups whose agendas have little to do with the welfare of the environment" (encyclopedia.uia.org).

Pinkwashing or rainbow washing is "the use of support for LGBT rights and issues by a state or business to boost its own image" (macmillan dictionary).