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Jargon Buster

Here we look at words and concepts that have recently been in the news and suggest ways in which they can be used in your classes.

Greenwash

What is it?

The term 'greenwash', a combination of 'green' and 'whitewash", describes the practice of companies portraying their products as 'greener', or more environmentally beneficial, than they actually are.

Why is the term in the news?

In December 2007 the Environmental News Network published a study, 'The Six Sins of Greenwashing', which found that 99% of 1,018 randomly-selected consumer products were guilty of greenwashing. Greenwashing is now regularly in the news and there are entire websites around the issue, such as greenwashingindex.com, which invite visitors to post advertisements for products they have found in order to allow everyone to vote on their 'greenwashing index'.

How can I use it in class?

This is a topic which can be used both on a personal and business-level. Points to discuss in class could be:

If you wanted to find out more about the true ecological impact of a product would you know how to go about doing so?
Is greenwashing inevitable, given the focus today on environmental issues?
Should there be national or international bodies which regulate products on account of their ecological impact? What other methods might there be to ensure products are as ecologically friendly as they say they are?
Show your students the videos from the link section below to develop their listening skills and vocabulary base in this area and as a springboard for discussion