Greenwashing in the Information Industry

Abstract

Digital technology companies are increasingly listening to consumers and publicly moving towards more sustainable environmental practices and policies. However, many of these companies employ ‘greenwashing’ by promoting ethical standards while doing surface-level work that covers up a seething underbelly of unsustainable and dangerous practices and policies that help to further accelerate the climate crisis. This article will delineate corporate greenwashing practices among digital technology companies through two case studies: Amazon and Google. Ultimately, three policy interventions will be presented that may alleviate the negative impacts of greenwashing by digital technology companies.