Greenwashing

International fashion brands are doubling down on their use of synthetic fibres – a key driver of microplastic pollution – while employing distraction and delay tactics to protect their fast fashion business model. This report uncovers the industry’s lacklustre support for meaningful legislation and underscores the urgent need for strong action from regulators.

Greenpeace reveals what lies beneath the green sheen and investigates self-assessed marketing labels. What is the basis of the claims that are made, how reliable are they and what do they actually cover? Can consumers take these labels at face value, and are they independently verified?

This report explores the current state of PET-based bottle recycling in Europe, as well as its potential for improvement, alongside analysis of common claims made to consumers on bottle labels relating to recycling.

Plastic water bottles are one of Europe’s most frequently purchased consumer products, a well-recognised source of plastic pollution and other environmental harm. Yet they remain widely promoted through claims relating to recycling. These claims are either vague, factually inaccurate, or otherwise not substantiated.

Corporate greenwashing involves a company enhancing – or fabricating – the environmental impact of its services and products. According to this report, this practice has become increasingly sophisticated, taking many different forms.

In 2018, individuals and organizations worldwide took local action to hold corporations accountable for the plastic pollution through unnecessary, problematic and excessive throwaway packaging and materials.

On World Clean Up Day 2019, individuals and organizations worldwide mobilized their communities to conduct clean-ups and brand audits to hold corporations accountable.

The report exposes how the plastic industry’s dirty decisions on packaging are impacting waste pickers’ livelihoods and highlights their vital contribution to managing the world’s plastic pollution crisis.