Environmental Claims Research Articles

Greenwashing, Greenwishing and Greenhushing in the context of Unfair Competition, Intellectual Property Protection and Consumer Rights

The problems of greenwashing and its manifestations in the modern world are of particular importance, since objective, truthful information about goods and services underlies normal economic processes, serves to respect the interests of consumers around the world and protect competition. It is also associated with the fair use of intellectual property, intellectual property rights. The problems of greenwashing not only affect the sphere of competition and consumer protection legislation They can also be qualified as problems of legislation in the field of intellectual property. The trend towards sustainable product choices does not result in a proportionate increase in eligible purchases due to the trend towards distrust caused by the proliferation of vague, ambiguous and unverifiable environmental claims. Unification of approaches to the qualification of greenwashing and its various manifestations with an emphasis on a special type of unfair acts of doing business with certain qualifying characteristics will ensure the sustainable development of international markets for goods and services, since greenwashing is more often used by large manufacturers operating in the markets of many countries to gain competitive advantages. At the same time, within the scope of intellectual property law, it is also advisable to research and regulate the inadmissibility of using greenwashing practices when using the results of intellectual activity and, above all, means of individualization.

Litigating the Climate between National and International Human Rights Regimes

Abstract This paper identifies the architecture of the justiciability of the right to a healthy environment, analysing the contribution of national and international regimes in climate litigation. It argues that neither the former nor the latter alone can currently offer a fully implementable set of remedies to the catastrophic consequences of environmental degradation. In all the cases, collectiveness is a parameter that needs to be taken into consideration, and which is shaping the way most of successful environmental claims are framed. This calls for a reflection on what courts can contribute, and maybe also if they should contribute at all, in the absence of explicit political will in the form of a specific binding treaty. It is concluded that through the interaction between domestic and international courts we can envisage a full coverage of the rights involved.

Combating Greenwashing of Construction Products in New Zealand and Australia: A Critical Analysis of Environmental Product Declarations

The construction industry’s increasing environmental impact has led to the widespread adoption of sustainability claims, yet the prevalence of greenwashing—where organizations make misleading environmental claims—threatens genuine sustainable development efforts. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) have emerged as a potential solution, particularly in the New Zealand and Australia construction sectors, where recent government climate regulations have accelerated their adoption. However, the effectiveness of EPDs in combating greenwashing and their practical implementation remain understudied. This research addresses this gap through a comprehensive analysis of EPDs in construction, employing a systematic literature review of 82 articles from 2010 to 2024 across major databases. Using ATLAS.ti 9 software, this study makes three key contributions: (1) develops a novel framework for evaluating EPD programs and their effectiveness in preventing greenwashing, (2) establishes a standardized methodology for assessing the completeness and accuracy of life cycle assessment information in EPDs, and (3) provides evidence-based recommendations for improving EPD implementation in the construction industry. The findings reveal critical shortcomings in current EPD practices, including inconsistent assessment methodologies and incomplete life cycle data. This study proposes specific reforms to enhance EPD reliability and transparency, offering practical guidelines for industry stakeholders to verify environmental claims. These contributions advance both the theoretical understanding of environmental certification systems and practical implementation of sustainable construction practices by developing regulatory frameworks.

The Double Materiality Audit: Attestation of ESG Disclosures in Financial Statements

SYNOPSIS Auditors are required to evaluate the reliability of financial numbers and potentially provide attestation of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) claims disclosed in financial statements. Double-materiality refers to assessing materiality from two aspects: first, the extent necessary for an understanding of the company’s financial position, and second, the ESG impact of the company’s activities on a broad range of stakeholders. For an audit, these are interconnected, meaning that despite their inherently nonfinancial nature, ESG factors are closely associated with financial outcomes and potential business risks. This research provides an understanding of such a double materiality audit by recognizing the role of external auditors regarding the interaction between a financial audit and ESG attestation and suggests an audit analysis roadmap that incorporates both quantitative and big ESG data. Specifically, it proposes extended audit procedures for data collection, verification, and analysis and highlights the ongoing challenges and opportunities. JEL Classifications: G18; G30; G32; G38; M14; M41; M42; M48.

THE EFFECT OF GREEN MARKETING MOTIVATION FACTORS ON CONSUMERS' PURCHASE INTENTION THROUGH THE MEDIATING ROLE OF GREEN BRAND TRUST TO COUNTER GREENWASHING

This study examines the influence of green marketing motivational factors on Algerian consumers' purchase intentions, specifically focusing on the mediating role of green brand trust in mitigating greenwashing's impact. The research, conducted in Maghnia, a city on the western border of Algeria, surveyed 262 consumers using a structured questionnaire. Analyzing the data using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the study reveals that green brand trust acts as a critical mediator between green marketing factors and purchase intentions. It finds that positive reception of green advertising and a strong green brand image significantly enhance green brand trust, which in turn, strongly influences consumers' intentions to purchase green products. Further analysis demonstrates that while non-deception and transparency do not directly impact green brand trust, they act as important moderators, enhancing the link between green advertising reception and trust. Notably, the study highlights the pervasive issue of greenwashing in Algeria, demonstrating how misleading environmental claims undermine consumer trust and purchase intentions. The study underscores the need for companies to prioritize genuine environmental efforts and ethical marketing practices to build lasting consumer relationships. Furthermore, the research emphasizes the importance of promoting environmental awareness among consumers through education programs and awareness campaigns, as well as strengthening environmental legislation to prevent deceptive practices. By understanding the complex relationship between green marketing factors, green brand trust, and purchase intentions, this study offers valuable insights for developing sustainable consumption patterns in developing economies while mitigating the negative effects of greenwashing.

Metro/Nonmetro Migration as a Risk Factor for Opioid Use Disorder Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries: A Longitudinal Analysis of 2013-2018 Data.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) among older adults (65+) has drawn researchers' attention. Nonetheless, whether migration between a metropolitan (metro) and nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) county shapes the risk of OUD remains underexplored. The drift hypothesis argues that individuals susceptible to a certain health condition tend to move, increasing the prevalence of the health condition in the destinations. By contrast, the environmental breeder hypothesis claims that migration alters the exposures to residential environment factors, which are associated with the occurrence of health conditions. Applying fixed-effects modeling to longitudinal data of older Medicare beneficiaries moving at least once between 2013 and 2018 (N = 6,227, person-year = 28,874), this study finds that older beneficiaries moving between metro and nonmetro counties demonstrated a higher risk of OUD than those who did not move. The positive association between migration and OUD risk is particularly strong for those moving from metro to nonmetro counties and the drift hypothesis receives stronger support.

Ethnic Environmentalism in the Russian Regions: National Identity and Nature Protection

Increased public awareness of environmental problems and the strengthening of diverse identities may lead to the emergence of ‘ethnic environmentalism’. These movements make environmental claims associated with the interests of an ethnic community. We develop this concept by examining protests in the Russian regions. Our findings suggest that ethnic identity facilitates environmental activism under the following conditions: the ethnic group claims a special cultural relationship to the natural environment; environmental concern and ethnic identity are linked to the unfair distribution of resources; and blame is directed towards regional actors rather than the federal government.

Article: The Neglected Public Interest in Investor-State Dispute Settlement: Environmental and Human Rights Considerations

With the rapid expansion of bilateral investment treaties (BITs), investor-state arbitration has paved its way to becoming the most preferred dispute settlement method by investors. However, the investment arbitration system has also attracted ‘backlash’. One reason is the challenge to balance between protection of foreign investors and the recognition of host states’ legitimate public interests. With the current pressures to reform the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system, there is a pressing need to offer a better balance between investor protection and host states’ sovereign right to regulate, as well as the wider public good such regulatory measures might have, especially in the context of environmental protection and human rights. This article argues for a better symmetry between foreign investor’s treaty-based claims and host states’ environmental and human rights (EHR) claims to acknowledge the public interests – social, economic, welfare, etc. In particular, it advocates for: the strengthened presence of independent experts and amicus curiae, a proportionality approach; and the overarching development of counterclaims as a consideration not only of the host state’s capacity to regulate but also the wider repercussions of such regulations on the public as well as the conduct of foreign investors.

Requirements for Environmental Claims in Marketing Based on Third-Party Certification

Requirements for Environmental Claims in Marketing Based on Third-Party Certification

The Impact of Greenwashing Advertising on Consumer Behavior

The economic motive of businesses in manipulating environmental aspects in increasing sales turnover so that consumers feel harmed by the advertising information. Greenwashing has significant negative impacts, both for consumers and companies that are truly committed to sustainability. For consumers, greenwashing can lead to misinformation and inappropriate purchasing decisions. Consumers who feel deceived by false environmental claims may experience disillusionment and lose trust in environmental claims as a whole. This can also be detrimental to companies that truly strive to carry out sustainable business practices, as it is difficult to differentiate themselves from companies that only pretend to care about the environment. This study aims to analyze theimpact of advertising greenwashing on consumer behavior. Methode in this research used yuridis normative with conceptual approach and legislation approach related to consumer protection and mediaenvironmentally friendly campaigns on goods and/or services. The results of this study indicate that rregulations related to consumer protection have not specifically regulated the concept of greenwashing, but have regulated the rights and obligations of business actors related to the act of greenwashing which mis leads to consumer decision making. Acts of greenwashing committed by business actors have violated consumer rights relating to correct and clear information and not misleading about the condition of goods and/or services traded. Business actors must be responsible in terms of withdrawing these advertisements and/or must be prepared to take responsibility for the resulting impact on consumers and/or the environment.

The Influence of Brand Greenwashing on EV Purchase Intention: The Moderating Role of Consumer Innovativeness and Peer Brand Attitude

In the context of new energy Electric Vehicles (EVs), certain car manufacturers engage in deceptive behaviors known as “greenwashing”, including activities such as “subsidy cheating”, “exaggerating carbon reduction claims”, and “selective disclosure of environmental information”. These behaviors have a negative impact on industry progress. While previous studies suggest that consumers’ perceptions of greenwashing towards individual brands extend to the industry as a whole and influence their overall purchase intentions, there remains a gap in understanding how these behaviors specifically affect consumers’ willingness to purchase EVs. To address this gap and enrich the literature on the relationship between greenwashing and consumer choice, this study uses ABC attitude theory and experimental methods to investigate the impact of greenwashing in the EV sector on consumers’ vehicle preferences in three experiments. The results show that consumers’ perceptions of greenwashing in one EV brand negatively influence their purchase intentions towards other brands, mediated by a general skepticism towards environmental claims in the industry. In addition, consumers’ innovativeness and attitudes towards other brands play a negative moderating role in this relationship. The research findings provide comprehensive insights into the complex impact of brand greenwashing on consumer behavior within the EV industry.

Do Consumers Value Agri-Food Industries' Environmental Commitment? The Case of the Table Olive Industry.

An increasing number of food companies are voluntarily adopting environmental policies and sustainability initiatives to tackle climate change. The aims of this study were to analyse the presence of environmental labels on table olive products, to explore consumer perceptions of these companies' environmental commitment and initiatives, and to evaluate the influence of these messages on purchasing decisions. For this purpose, a market study was conducted in different hypermarkets and supermarkets in Spain, and an online survey was submitted to consumers (n = 227). The results show that environmental claims and/or certifications related to sustainability do not appear on table olive products, despite most of the companies that produce and/or market table olives having adopted environmental and sustainability policies and commitments (34.3% have their environmental policy published on their website). More than 85% of consumers positively value these companies' sustainability commitments and consider environmental initiatives to be very important. As a sector of consumers pays close attention to environmental commitments, it would be interesting for table olive companies to identify their sustainability policies on their products' labelling to, thus, facilitate pro-environmental consumer purchase choices. These results could help the food industry develop the best strategies to publicise their social and environmental policies and commitments.

Beyond Purchase Intentions: How Technology 4.0 Validates Green Consumer Choices and Corporate Environmental Claims

Beyond Purchase Intentions: How Technology 4.0 Validates Green Consumer Choices and Corporate Environmental Claims

Green Marketing and Consumer Environmental Awareness: A Bibliometric Review of Social Education and Campaigns

This study employs bibliometric analysis to explore the expansive landscape of green marketing and consumer environmental awareness research. Utilizing data from VOSviewer, we analyzed thematic clusters, research trends, emerging topics, and author collaboration networks from a comprehensive dataset spanning several decades. Our findings reveal distinct thematic areas, including core marketing strategies, consumer behavior, corporate responsibility, and the critical evaluation of greenwashing practices. A temporal analysis indicates a shift in focus from traditional marketing tactics to nuanced understandings of consumer attitudes and the authenticity of environmental claims. Additionally, we identified potential research opportunities in underexplored areas such as green hotels and green markets, which could provide new insights into sector-specific sustainability practices. The author collaboration network analysis highlights a somewhat segmented academic community with opportunities for more interdisciplinary and integrative research efforts. This study not only charts the evolution and current state of green marketing research but also points to future directions that could bridge existing gaps and foster broader collaborative networks.

An urban political ecology of populism

In this paper we develop a relational understanding of populism informed by urban political ecology. We argue that an urban political ecology of populism is necessary for a popular-democratic denunciation of the environmental claims of the far right. This article thereby aims to further develop a critique of liberal environmentalism and right-wing populism. We do so by first staging a dialogue between literatures in urban political ecology and Gramscian inflected readings of populism. Both have sought to interpret how spatial – and ecological – claim making becomes central to struggles over hegemony. The second half of the paper analyses these tensions in the Dutch farmers movement, which has become one of the most important political forces in the Netherlands since 2019. Abstracting “the local”, “the rural” or “the farm” out of the broader processes of urbanisation is central to struggles over the representation of farmers. Right-wing movements thus seek to further a broader disillusionment with formal politics, while effectively deploying spatial and ecological abstractions that pit the “rural” against the “urban”. We conclude by instead emphasising the crucial connections between populism and ecology, and call for a popular-democratic political ecology.

Lifestyle Eco-Influencers Advertising: Is Engagement Driven by Content or Fandom?

This research examines the main common characteristics among the contents of five eco-influencer accounts from different Western countries. A quantitative content analysis was performed on 187 Instagram posts published by eco-influencers from the United Kingdom, United States, Belgium, Spain, and Peru. The topics that eco-influencers deal with the most are promoting veganism, spirituality, environmental and political claims, product advertising (their own and third-party), and personal life, generating the most interactions in the accounts. Carousels win on engagement for eco-influencers on Instagram despite videos being sponsors’ favorite format. Both sponsored content and sponsors themselves are well-received, with over half of all posts featuring them. It seems evident that the social capital of influencers encourages environmental commitment, although there is a particular bias to appreciate the person more than their activist message. In light of the results, this research contributes to the social capital theory of influencers by demonstrating that influencers show personal content and emotional appeals, such as activities with their families, personal reflections, and political statements that give them a high sense of authenticity, but which, blurs the barriers between the public and private spheres.

What to do With Cross-Border Environmental Pollution: Legislative Aspects

Abstract – Environmental torts and possibility of trans-border dispute settlement thereof has gained significant prominence in the recent years. Cases such as Urgenda foundation v the State of the Netherlends, Milieudefensie et al. v. Royal Dutch Shell plc., ClientEarth v. Enea, Neubauer et al. v. Germany demonstrate that environmental tort cases can be brought by stakeholders globally rather than relying on involvement of a relevant national responsible authority. EU climate policy of decreasing GHG emissions and the ambitious target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 has resulted in a rapid development of environmental law. Thus, environmental regulation is becoming increasingly complex and possible breaches may cause serious legal consequences affecting everyone not just selected individuals or states. These developments could possibly lead to a necessity of a forum or rules where any natural person or an NGO could bring a claim against a state or multinational corporation which engages in illegal activities causing harm the environment on a global scale. Using litigation as a tool to empower society to stand against environmental wrongdoers may serve as a deterring factor to maintain order when it comes to environmental regulation. While such reasoning may seem farfetched and extreme, nevertheless it still raises a question of current regulation on determination of jurisdiction and the applicable law and whether it would be possible to benefit from developing these rules. By engaging in a systematic literature analysis identifying the relevant terms, the research shall explore the basic principles of private international law in relation to assigning jurisdiction and determining applicable law in claims concerning environmental torts. The research shall develop a methodology with the aim of covering and identifying a wider range of problems related to the determination of jurisdiction and application of law in cross-border environmental tort claims. Some of the main issues concern the determination of defendants in cases involving multinational corporations, multi-claimant cases, and the compensation of indirect damages. An exploration of material aspects in the developments of the current EU regulation and guidelines shall be analysed in conjunction with the aforementioned notion. The result of the study not only will reflect the specifics of the application of the Brussels Ibis Regulation and Rome II regulation in cross-border environmental torts, but also how the EU environmental regulation could potentially promote corporate responsibility and environmental protection. Thus, developing research on interaction between private international law and environmental law. Keywords - environmental tort, SEG emissions, jurisdiction, applicable law, cross-border pollution

Discovering the sustainable development role of fintech credit and the pilot low carbon project on greenwashing in China

AbstractLow-carbon development is important to reduce global warming, allow people to live in normal temperatures and climates, and limit the loss of labor productivity by avoiding air pollution. However, greenwashing prevents low-carbon development by making companies appear more eco-friendly than they are. Therefore, this study examines the influence of financial technology (FinTech) credit and the implementation of the Pilot Low Carbon Project on corporate greenwashing in China from 2015 to 2021. The study uses the method of moment quantile regression (MMQR) to determine that FinTech credit and low- carbon projects prevent greenwashing behavior and promote environmentally sustainable corporate practices in China. Fintech plays a crucial role in monitoring the environmental impact of urban development, especially in the context of the Low Carbon City Initiative. The influence of Fintech Credit on greenwashing experiences a notable reduction in the higher quantiles, especially between the 75th and 95th culminating in a significant decrease to approximately − 0.07. Companies outside the low carbon city areas consistently experience a negative impact of Fintech Credit on greenwashing. This investigation contributes significantly to the discourse on the interplay between greenwashing, FinTech and sustainable urban development. It also provides valuable insights for the development of strategies aimed at mitigating misleading environmental claims made by companies.

Consumers preferences and social sustainability: a discrete choice experiment on ‘Quality Agricultural Work’ ethical label in the Italian fruit sector

The Italian legislator has adopted several instruments to discourage undeclared work and exploitative labour in agriculture, mostly of a penal-repressive nature. Among the direct and indirect policy measures, the ‘Quality Agricultural Work Network’ represents an interesting approach to producing a ‘whitelist’ of farmers compliant with labour regulations. A law proposal intends to establish the ‘Quality Agricultural Work’ (QAW) ethical label to incentivise farmers to join the network, to which a limited percentage of farms have signed up. This study aims to investigate consumer preferences for the QAW label in the Italian fruit sector. We conducted a choice experiment on a sample of 324 consumers. Willingness to pay for ethical labels was estimated before and after information treatment was administered to evaluate the prospective effects of promotional and information campaigns. The information treatment conveyed a clear and concise message about the QAW project and its ethical label. The results show that consumers would pay a high price premium for fruit produced under fair working conditions, indicating that there may be a market space for the QAW label. Moreover, consumers perceive environmental and social sustainability claims as complementary contexts where both dimensions of sustainability are relevant.Graphical abstract

An experimental test of a greenwashing inoculation intervention in Ireland: Effects of ‘pre-bunking’ on identification, consumer trust and purchase intentions

Misleading claims about the environmental performance of a product or service (i.e., “greenwashing”) hinder consumers from making informed choices and penalise genuinely sustainable companies. We designed a greenwashing ‘inoculation’ intervention (i.e., an educative intervention to pre-bunk commonly used greenwashing tactics prior to exposure). We first pre-tested the intervention using a student sample (N = 206) and then ran a pre-registered replication using a nationally representative sample (N = 2000). Participants were randomised to one of three groups. The intervention group (n = 892) learned about greenwashing and how to identify it whereas the control group (n = 902) read a piece of text about climate change. A third group acted as a ‘no-contact’ control (n = 206). Participants then judged six real advertisements (three greenwashed and three with genuine environmental claims) on greenwashed content, brand trust, and willingness to purchase. The intervention increased greenwashing ratings for two of the greenwashed advertisements, with corresponding decreases in brand trust and purchase intentions. The unaffected greenwashed advertisement was for a dairy-free milk alternative from a familiar brand, suggesting that familiarity and product sustainability may mitigate greenwashing interventions. However, participants also judged two of the three genuine advertisements as greenwashed, implying a broadly-applied scepticism of environmental claims, particularly towards unfamiliar brands. Despite difficulty distinguishing between greenwashed and genuine advertisements, participants were more confident in their ability to identify greenwashing and had stronger resolves to act in pro-environmentally in the future. The findings have implications for greenwashing policy.