The Green Disguise

Greenwashing is when a company spends more effort appearing environmentally friendly than actually being environmentally friendly. It ranges from misleading labels to full-blown deceptive advertising campaigns designed to capture eco-conscious consumers.

The term was coined in 1986 by environmentalist Jay Westerveld after noticing hotels asking guests to reuse towels "for the environment" while making zero effort to reduce their massive energy and water waste elsewhere. The towel trick saved hotels money on laundry.