Leia o texto para responder às questões de números 22 a 29.
How can consumers find out if a corporation is
“greenwashing" environmentally unsavory practices?
June 29, 2013
In essence, greenwashing involves falsely conveying
to consumers that a given product, service, company or
institution factors environmental responsibility into its
offerings and/or operations. CorpWatch, a non–profit
organization dedicated to keeping tabs on the social
responsibility (or lack thereof) of U.S.–based companies,
characterizes greenwashing as “the phenomena of socially
and environmentally destructive corporations, attempting to
preserve and expand their markets or power by posing as
friends of the environment."
One of the groups leading the charge against
greenwashing is Greenpeace. “Corporations are falling all
over themselves," reports the group, “to demonstrate that
they are environmentally conscious. The average citizen
is finding it more and more difficult to tell the difference
between those companies genuinely dedicated to making a
difference and those that are using a green curtain to conceal
dark motives."
Greenpeace launched its Stop Greenwash campaign in
2009 to call out bad actors and help consumers make better
choices. The most common greenwashing strategy, the group
says, is when a company touts an environmental program
or product while its core business is inherently polluting or
unsustainable.
Another involves what Greenpeace calls “ad bluster":
using targeted advertising or public relations to exaggerate
a green achievement so as to divert attention from actual
environmental problems – or spending more money bragging
about green behavior than on actual deeds. In some cases,
companies may boast about corporate green commitments
while lobbying behind the scenes against environmental
laws.
Greenpeace also urges vigilance about green claims
that brag about something the law already requires: “For
example, if an industry or company has been forced to change
a product, clean up its pollution or protect an endangered
species, then uses Public Relations campaigns to make such
action look proactive or voluntary."
For consumers, the best way to avoid getting
“greenwashed" is to be educated about who is truly green
and who is just trying to look that way to make more money.
Look beyond advertising claims, read ingredient lists or ask employees about the real information on their company's
environmental commitment. Also, look for labels that show if
a given offering has been inspected by a reliable third–party.
For example, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Certified
Organic label can only go on products that meet the federal
government's organic standard. Just because a label says
“made with organic ingredients" or “all–natural" does not
mean the product qualifies as Certified Organic, so be sure
to look beyond the hype.
(www.scientificamerican.com. Adaptado.)