Business Practices and the Environment

December 7, 2023December 8, 2023

Tesla and Greenwashing

By Maria LeLourec

Tesla’s Eco-Friendly Claims: Fact or Fiction?

Led by its CEO, Elon Musk, Tesla Inc. has garnered widespread acclaim for its role in revolutionizing the electric vehicle (EV) industry and promoting renewable energy, the reduction of carbon emissions, and a more sustainable future.^[1] The company’s eco-friendly image, however, is belied by accusations of greenwashing, with critics arguing that Tesla has exaggerated its environmental achievements to enhance its public image.^[2]

October 2, 2023October 4, 2023

Fast Fashion: Polluting our Water Millions of Clothing Items at a Time

By Vanessa Turk

What is fast fashion and why is it a problem?

“Fast fashion” refers to the business model of mass-producing replicas of the latest clothing trends and designs at a low cost and selling them rapidly in stores while the demand is at its highest. This objective of helping consumers acquire the latest in fashion trends comes at a huge environmental price, however. Overconsumption of water and water pollution are two of the most concerning forms of environmental harm that fast fashion imposes on the environment. These impacts from fast fashion need to be addressed effectively and quickly through new accountability mechanisms and possible systemic changes in the fast fashion industry.

August 12, 2023October 4, 2023

The Potential for Greenwashing from “Green” Trademarks and Marketing

By Vanessa Turk

The world is moving into an era of heightened environmental consciousness. This is driving businesses to enhance their commitment to sustainable practices. Registering a green trademark is one of many ways for a business to implement more sustainable practices, but it comes with the potential for greenwashing, which can have adverse legal consequences. Greenwashing is the practice of making a product or practice appear more environmentally friendly than it really is by using unsubstantiated and misleading claims about the sustainability of products, services, or practices.