Greenwashing: Appliances
Source: https://earth.org/greenwashing-products/
Author: Jane Marsh
While buying Energy Star-rated appliances is usually a safe bet, no home appliance is safe from greenwashing because companies can simply omit the harmful effects. An item might be eco-friendly in a controlled environment, but every home has different needs and energy outputs. General Electric was exposed for this tactic when the company claimed its appliances could reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but failed to account for monthly energy costs and how many devices were required to see a substantial reduction. A well-known example is Dawn dish soap’s marketing campaign that used animal rescue photos and videos from oil spills. While Dawn’s cleanup efforts are admirable in their own right, they don’t make its product any more eco-friendly.