Watch out for Corporate Green Washing

These days, green is the new black. Corporation's are falling all over themselves to demonstrate to the current and potential customers that they are not only ecologically conscious, but also environmentally correct. The definition of Green washing is the unjustified appropriation of environmental virtue by a company, an industry, a government or a politician to create a pro-environmental image, sell a product or a policy or to try and rehabilitate their public green image. Their is no industry more guilty of the this than the Coal industry with their so called "CLEAN COAL" ad campaign. There is no such thing as clean coal! Burning coal to make electricity is bad for the environment no matter what we do with the waste (CO2). Burying the waste (CO2) deep underground will only create a very big problem in the future. The ads for "clean coal" are not even really talking about burying the waste(CO2). The technology for this is still in its infancy. What they are talking about is rebuilding the old( some are over 100 years old) coal plants and replacing them new more efficient ones. To do this they need money from higher taxes or higher electric bills. Hence the need for all the green washing ads to raise public and political support for their industry. So if your local, state, or federal politician is making a push for clean coal in your area tell him/her you don't approve. That you want your tax dollars to go to real clean power such as Solar, wind, or geothermal.











Now an example of a corporation Green Washing is Ford's recent Ecoboost engine and ecoboost ad campaign. I'm sure if you have watched TV lately you have seen Fords new commercial for the new Taurus SHO with "ECOBOOST". This engine is a V6 365 horse that gets 17 city and 25 highway miles to the gallon. And everyone knows that the government estimated MPG is never accurate. So really this engine gets about 15 city and 20 highway. Now does that sound like a car that should have the words "ECOBOOST" put on the trunk! Ford should be ashamed of this green washing. The worst thing is that the American people are so stupid that this green washing is actually working. Ford sales are up 3% since the start of their "ecoboost" campaign, UNREAL! And whats even more scary is that this one of Ford's big green changes moving forward. They plan to offer this engine in 90% of their vehicles by 2013. I hope that Ford and other companies that are green washing get crushed and put out of business by companies that are giving us real sustainable solutions to live our lives. If you want to see more examples of green washing go to Green Washing Index. Also the next time you go to make purchase or to vote ask yourself, Is this company, person, or industry really green or just green washing?


GREEN GNOME OUT!