Greenwashing

Businesses are increasingly being scrutinized over claims regarding their efforts, performance, or impact on the climate.
When such claims are (or appear to be) misleading, and businesses present themselves as greener or more sustainable than they actually are, this is referred to as greenwashing. Greenwashing can have negative consequences, such as misleading consumers, investors, and financiers, as well as creating unfair competition. Moreover, it can delay the energy transition and undermine the effectiveness of government measures.
At a time when sustainability is a key pillar of policy, business operations, consumer behavior, and investment decisions, it is crucial to identify, prevent, and, where necessary, legally address greenwashing. This requires a multidisciplinary approach. In addition to legal perspectives — including liability law, securities law, criminal law, and financial law — insights from environmental science, behavioral psychology, and economics are also essential. Furthermore, in this book the perspectives of in-house counsel, regulators, and NGOs are taken into account.
This research project brings together these disciplines and offers an in-depth analysis of the issues surrounding greenwashing.