Green Doesn’t Mean Good
Yet another facet of greenwashing
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We live in a time where everything is “green”: Green tech. Green fashion. Green energy. Greenwashing has basically turned “green” into a lifestyle accessory.
So here’s an uncomfortable truth for you all, “green” doesn’t mean sustainable. It doesn’t even mean ethical. It just means profitable.
Let’s take a moment to talk about electric cars. It seems as if everyone is obsessed with them. They’re sleek, silent, and they’re supposedly saving the planet. Except, the lithium in those batteries comes from brutal mining operations in Africa that destroy ecosystems and exploit workers. The carbon footprint of manufacturing one EV is massive — and the waste problem when it comes to disposing them when those batteries die? Enormous.
Or “green” fashion (aka “eco-friendly” fast fashion). A $200 linen dress made from recycled water bottles isn’t sustainable if it’s still produced in massive quantities, shipped globally, and marketed to make you feel like you’re saving the world by shopping.
We’ve turned sustainability into a brand aesthetic. It’s all beige tones, bamboo utensils, and tote bags that say “The Future Is Female.” But what if sustainability isn’t something you can buy? The real sustainable choice is almost always the least glamorous one: using what you already have. Repairing instead of replacing. Keeping your old phone instead of upgrading to the “eco” model.
The truth is, a green product that perpetuates overconsumption isn’t green. It’s just guilt-wrapped capitalism.
So next time you see “eco-friendly,” take a second and ask yourself this: is it planet-friendly—or profit-friendly?
You might start realising that “green” is not only a colour, it’s a sales tactic.
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- Lauren
Accurate audit of the 'Green' trap. We are decorating the morgue while the body is decomposing. Glad to find another signal in the noise.