"Greenwashing" and plastics recycling: a cross-border focus

As businesses seek to attract environmentally-minded and sustainability-focused consumers, many are increasingly finding themselves the target of complaints alleging "greenwashing". “Greenwashing” refers to the practice of companies promoting supposed environmental benefits or advertising their sustainability bona fides through advertising or labelling that is perceived as false, misleading or vague. Consumers and environmental groups alike have pressed forward on alleged “greenwashing” complaints against companies in a variety of industries, part of a rising wave of attention to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues. 

We take a look at the major trends in so-called “greenwashing” complaints across the United States, United Kingdom and EU, and Asia, particularly in relation to plastics and recycling issues.