As part of our media literacy studies, and in preparation for Earth Day next week, students in Division 5 have been discussing the concept of “greenwashing.”
We examined some political cartoons and advertisements to analyze their messages. We discussed the commentary of the cartoons–reading “between the lines” about the environmental impacts of our society and corporations. The ads were especially interesting to analyze, and students were keen on identifying the different greenwashing strategies used to persuade potential customers to purchase a product or service.
How is greenwashing being used in these ads?
Here are some good tips for spotting greenwashing (from The Sustainable Agency)