The Birth of Greenwashing

March 06, 2023

Did you know that reusing towels was the driver of the term “greenwashing”? In 1986, an environmentalist wrote an essay inspired by the “save the towel” movement in hotels. Hotels encouraged guests to save water by re-using towels. Critics claim the campaign had little impact beyond reducing laundry costs. Regardless, the term stuck and is increasingly a part of the vernacular in the energy transition as watchdogs focus on claims across the energy value chain.

Links:
https://www.ul.com/insights/sins-greenwashing
https://www0.gsb.columbia.edu/mygsb/faculty/research/pubfiles