Dear Forests

Episode 7: Ecolabels and Greenwashing


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When you walk into any shop today, whether it's the grocery store or a clothing store, you are confronted with so many labels on the products, some of which are supposed to be 'eco-labels'. In this episode we discuss what eco-labels are and aren't; how certain companies can get an eco-label and the challenges they face; tips for how you as a consumer can be a more responsible spender; and GREENWASHING!

Some concepts of interest for you from this episode:

Normative (by the government) — Relating to or dealing with certain standards.

Proactive greenwashing — A form of corporate greenwashing that occurs when companies intentionally exaggerates their environmental initiatives to gain a competitive advantage by improving their corporate reputation.

Reactive greenwashing — A form of corporate greenwashing used when firms feel compelled to respond to stakeholder demands without making real changes to their practices. This may include selective disclosure and expressive manipulation and is the most common form of greenwashing.

We also discussed the EU Ecolabel, Green Seal, and of course RecyClass. If you'd like to know what a more complex supply chain looks like, you can watch this explanation.


Diego Rozo is an environmental engineer from Colombia with experience in recycling, sustainability, and certification systems. At the the moment he works at RecyClass where his day-to-day involves working to provide certifications to companies in the industry of recycled plastics. He is passionate about creating practical solutions for a more sustainable world by combining technical knowledge with a human perspective.




**Sponsored by the WWF Belgium in collaboration with DGD (Direction générale Coopération au développement et Aide humanitaire).

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Dear ForestsBy Phatsimo Ditlhong