The Illusion of Sustainability
Every year, major corporations pump millions into marketing campaigns claiming their commitment to sustainability. Yet, behind the slogans and glossy ads, these same companies continue to pollute, exploit, and degrade the environment. Greenwashing—the deceptive practice of making something appear more environmentally friendly than it is—has become a standard corporate tactic.

The Dirty Reality
Take the fossil fuel industry. BP rebranded itself as “Beyond Petroleum” in the early 2000s, yet oil and gas still account for over 96% of its revenue. Shell, ExxonMobil, and Chevron have made similar commitments to net-zero goals, but all continue to expand their oil drilling operations.

Retail giants like H&M and Zara push “conscious” and “eco” clothing lines while fueling fast fashion, a major contributor to global waste. Studies show that the fashion industry produces 92 million tonnes of textile waste annually.

Even McDonald’s has joined the act, introducing paper straws that—despite being marketed as “eco-friendly”—are not recyclable. While having mostly paper packaging they are yet to produce a plastic alternative for the top of their cups

Why Greenwashing Works
The Murdoch media empire plays a key role in amplifying corporate PR, selling greenwashed narratives while downplaying real environmental issues. The Australian and the Herald Sun regularly publish pieces celebrating mining companies’ “sustainability efforts” while attacking environmental activists who expose their actual record.

What Needs to Change?
Stronger Regulation: Governments must crack down on misleading environmental claims, imposing severe fines on corporations caught greenwashing.
Truth in Advertising Laws: Companies should be legally required to provide full transparency about their environmental impact.
Independent Oversight: Third-party watchdogs should monitor corporate sustainability claims and publicly expose false advertising.
Greenwashing is not just misleading—it actively delays real climate action. The public needs to stop falling for the lies, hold corporations accountable, and demand genuine environmental responsibility.