Which one of the following best describes the term "greenwashing"?
A
Conveying a false impression that a company's products are eco-friendly and environmentally sound
Correct Answer
B
Non-inclusion of ecological/environmental costs in the Annual Financial Statements of a country
C
Ignoring the disastrous ecological consequences while undertaking infrastructure development
D
Making mandatory provisions for environmental costs in a government project/programme
Explanation
Option (a) is correct because greenwashing is a deceptive marketing tactic where a company provides misleading information or a false impression to make its products appear more environmentally friendly than they actually are. Option (b) is the most tempting distractor but actually refers to a lack of "Green Accounting," which is the integration of environmental costs into financial reporting rather than a marketing claim. The core concept tested is corporate environmental accountability and the use of "PR spin" to mask unsustainable practices.
Environmental Ethics / Corporate ResponsibilityGreenwashingGreenwashingfalse impressioneco-friendlyenvironmentally soundecological costsconsumer deception