Greenwashing is everywhere—don’t let these industry tricks fool you.
Big brands love to slap words like “eco-friendly,” “sustainable,” and “carbon neutral” on their products. They want you to believe they’re part of the solution, not the problem. But behind the glossy marketing and green logos, many companies are still doing business as usual—polluting, overproducing, and cutting corners in ways that hurt both the planet and consumers.
From misleading labels to shady offsets, corporations have mastered the art of looking green while doing the bare minimum. They know most people don’t have time to dig into the fine print, so they use buzzwords and vague claims to make their products seem more ethical than they really are. These tactics work, but once you know the tricks, you won’t fall for them again. Here are the biggest sustainability lies companies want you to believe—and the truth they don’t want you to know.
1. “Carbon neutral” doesn’t mean what you think it does.
Companies love to slap “carbon neutral” on their products, but that label rarely means they’ve stopped polluting. Instead, most corporations buy carbon offsets—essentially paying to “cancel out” emissions rather than reducing them. According to Nina Lakhani at The Guardian, investigations have found that more than 90% of rainforest carbon offsets sold by major certifiers may be worthless, failing to actually reduce emissions.
Meanwhile, the company keeps polluting as usual, banking on the idea that a distant tree-planting project makes up for the damage. Some offsets take decades to absorb the carbon that corporations release instantly.
Others fail entirely due to wildfires or deforestation. True carbon neutrality means reducing emissions at the source, not just throwing money at the problem. If a company claims to be carbon neutral but hasn’t changed its production, transportation, or energy use, that label is just a smokescreen.
2. “Recyclable” packaging often ends up in the trash.
That little recycling symbol on your favorite products doesn’t guarantee they’ll be turned into something new. Many companies use misleading claims, labeling their packaging as “recyclable” even when it requires specialized facilities that barely exist. Per an interview by Inside Climate News’ Aynsley O’Neil, the resin identification codes on plastics, often surrounded by chasing arrows, were created to identify the type of plastic resin but do not necessarily mean the product is recyclable.
Even supposedly recyclable plastics like PET (#1) and HDPE (#2) don’t always make the cut. If facilities are overwhelmed, dirty, or uneconomical to process, those materials get trashed. Meanwhile, companies use the recycling symbol as a marketing tool, pushing responsibility onto consumers instead of redesigning their packaging. If a brand brags about “recyclable” packaging without proof it’s actually being reused, it’s just another greenwashing tactic.
3. Fast fashion brands calling themselves “sustainable” is a joke.
H&M, Zara, and Shein want you to believe they’re going green. Martina Igini of Earth.Org explains that Zara launched its ‘Join Life’ collection nearly two decades ago, aiming to boost its sustainability image. But their business model—producing billions of garments at breakneck speed—will never be sustainable.
Fast fashion thrives on overproduction, cheap labor, and disposable clothing that falls apart after a few wears. Using organic cotton in one collection doesn’t change the fact that their factories pump out mountains of waste and pollution. Even “recycled” fabrics often contain a mix of synthetic fibers that can’t be recycled again, leading to the same landfill problem.
A truly sustainable brand doesn’t churn out thousands of new styles every week or encourage impulse buying with constant sales. If a fast fashion giant claims to care about the planet while producing clothes at an unsustainable rate, their greenwashing is working exactly as planned.
4. “Biodegradable” and “compostable” don’t mean what they should.
More companies are slapping “biodegradable” or “compostable” on their products, but those words don’t always mean what shoppers assume. Many of these materials only break down under industrial composting conditions—not in backyard bins or landfills. Some biodegradable plastics need high heat and specialized treatment, which most cities don’t offer, leaving them to decompose as slowly as regular plastic.
Truly compostable items—like plant-based packaging—can still cause problems if they aren’t disposed of properly. If they end up in recycling bins or regular trash, they contaminate waste streams and defeat the whole purpose. Without clear disposal systems, these labels are just another way for companies to market themselves as sustainable while pushing the responsibility onto consumers. A product labeled “biodegradable” but destined for the landfill isn’t helping anyone but the brand selling it.
5. “Plant-based” doesn’t always mean better for the planet.
Slapping a “plant-based” label on a product makes it sound like an automatic win for the environment, but the reality is more complicated. Many plant-based foods, plastics, and fabrics still require massive amounts of water, land, and energy to produce. Almond milk, for example, is plant-based—but it takes thousands of gallons of water to grow enough almonds for a single gallon.
Plant-based plastics (PLA) are another greenwashed trap. While they come from renewable sources, they don’t break down like regular compostable materials. Most require industrial facilities that barely exist, meaning they still pile up in landfills. Even some plant-based clothing fibers, like bamboo viscose, involve toxic chemicals in production.
Not all plant-based products are bad, but companies love using the term without addressing sustainability issues in their supply chains. If a brand can’t prove its eco-friendly claims, “plant-based” is just another feel-good label.
6. Big brands are hoarding water while telling you to “save every drop.”
Corporations love to push water conservation campaigns, urging people to take shorter showers and turn off the tap while brushing their teeth. Meanwhile, the same companies pumping out these messages are draining entire regions dry for their products. Nestlé, Coca-Cola, and Pepsi have been caught extracting millions of gallons of water from drought-stricken areas to bottle and sell—often back to the same communities that now struggle with shortages.
Agricultural giants are just as guilty. Almond and avocado farms in California guzzle absurd amounts of water, while beef production remains one of the most water-intensive industries on the planet. Yet instead of cutting their consumption, companies focus on shifting the blame onto individuals. While personal water conservation is important, it’s nothing compared to the damage done by industries that treat natural resources like endless commodities.
7. Airlines selling “carbon offsets” want you to believe flying is guilt-free.
Next time you book a flight, the airline might offer you a “carbon offset” to balance out your emissions. It sounds responsible, but in reality, these offsets are just a clever way for airlines to keep polluting while making customers feel better about it.
Most offsets fund tree-planting projects or renewable energy, but there’s no guarantee they actually cancel out the damage done by burning jet fuel. Trees take decades to absorb carbon, and many offset projects never deliver on their promises. Meanwhile, airlines continue expanding, pushing more flights and increasing their overall emissions.
Instead of changing the industry, they’ve found a way to shift the blame onto passengers. If a company truly cared about sustainability, it wouldn’t rely on sketchy offsets—it would invest in cleaner fuels, fewer flights, and better alternatives for travelers.
8. “Sustainable seafood” labels don’t mean the oceans are safe.
Walk into any grocery store, and you’ll see seafood packages stamped with labels like “sustainably sourced” or “ocean-friendly.” These claims are supposed to reassure consumers, but in many cases, they’re little more than marketing. Even certified fisheries have been caught overfishing, harming marine ecosystems, and using methods that kill unintended species.
The seafood industry thrives on loopholes. Some companies use misleading labels while sourcing from fisheries with destructive practices like bottom trawling, which devastates ocean floors. Others sell farmed fish raised in overcrowded, pollution-filled waters, all while maintaining their “sustainable” branding. The reality is that truly responsible seafood is rare, and most labels don’t mean much without stricter enforcement. Until governments and independent regulators crack down on misleading certifications, “sustainable seafood” is just another feel-good slogan designed to keep profits rolling in.
9. Electric vehicles aren’t as green as automakers want you to think.
Car companies love to market electric vehicles (EVs) as the future of sustainability, but they rarely mention the environmental cost of making them. Mining for lithium, cobalt, and nickel—the key materials for EV batteries—destroys ecosystems, contaminates water sources, and exploits workers in developing countries.
Then there’s the issue of electricity. EVs are only as clean as the power grids they rely on. In regions where electricity still comes from coal or gas, charging an EV has a much larger carbon footprint than automakers like to admit. While EVs are undeniably better than gas-powered cars in the long run, they aren’t a perfect solution. Instead of acting like electric cars alone will save the planet, companies should focus on reducing overall car dependence with better public transport, bike infrastructure, and walkable cities.
10. “Zero waste” products are rarely as waste-free as they claim.
More brands are jumping on the “zero waste” trend, selling everything from reusable containers to compostable packaging. But just because a product is labeled “zero waste” doesn’t mean it actually avoids landfills. Many of these items still contain plastic coatings, mixed materials, or hidden waste in their supply chains.
Take reusable water bottles and tote bags. While they reduce single-use waste, their production still requires massive amounts of resources. Some studies show you’d need to use a single cotton tote thousands of times to offset the environmental impact of making it. Meanwhile, “compostable” coffee cups often require industrial facilities that barely exist, meaning they end up in the trash anyway. Zero waste is an ideal, not a guarantee, and many companies use the label to sell more stuff instead of encouraging real waste reduction.
11. “Eco-friendly” cleaning products are often just regular cleaners in greener bottles.
Swap out your usual household cleaner for a “green” version, and you might feel like you’re helping the planet. But many so-called eco-friendly cleaning products still contain synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, and preservatives that aren’t much better than their conventional counterparts.
The main difference? The branding. Companies use recycled plastic packaging, add a few natural ingredients, and call it “non-toxic” or “plant-based.” But without strict regulations on what qualifies as “eco-friendly,” brands are free to stretch the truth.
Some green cleaners still rely on harsh chemicals that contribute to water pollution, while others use palm oil, a major driver of deforestation. Unless a company is fully transparent about ingredients, manufacturing, and disposal, “eco-friendly” on a cleaning bottle might just mean a higher price tag for the same old formula.
12. Big Oil wants you to believe it’s going green—but it’s still drilling nonstop.
ExxonMobil, BP, Shell—they all claim to be “investing in a sustainable future.” They run ads about solar panels, carbon capture, and algae biofuels. Yet behind the scenes, they’re still pouring billions into fossil fuel expansion, lobbying against climate policies, and doubling down on oil and gas production.
In 2022 alone, the world’s five biggest oil companies made $200 billion in profits—while spending a tiny fraction of that on renewables. Their so-called “green investments” are often distractions, designed to make it seem like they’re evolving while they continue business as usual. Meanwhile, they push the idea that individuals—not corporations—should take responsibility for emissions. If oil companies were truly serious about sustainability, they wouldn’t be drilling new wells. They’d be shutting them down.