Greenwashing
Greenwashing is the act of exaggerating the extent to which products or services take into account environmental and sustainability factors. Funds and advisers that engage in greenwashing may exaggerate or overstate the environmental and sustainability practices or factors considered in their investment products or services, while labeling and marketing themselves in a manner that makes it difficult for investors to distinguish them from funds and advisers that are truly using environmental and sustainability strategies.
Concept at a glance
Definition and explanation
Greenwashing is the act of exaggerating the extent to which products or services take into account environmental and sustainability factors. Funds and advisers that engage in greenwashing may exaggerate or overstate the environmental and sustainability practices or factors considered in their investment products or services, while labeling and marketing themselves in a manner that makes it difficult for investors to distinguish them from funds and advisers that are truly using environmental and sustainability strategies. [1]
Other entities or industry professionals may also engage in greenwashing. For example, companies may exaggerate or overstate the environmental and sustainability aspects of their products or services or make unsupported claims about taking environmental or sustainability actions. [1]
Frequently asked questions
What does Greenwashing mean in the cited reference?
Greenwashing is the act of exaggerating the extent to which products or services take into account environmental and sustainability factors. Funds and advisers that engage in greenwashing may exaggerate or overstate the environmental and sustainability practices or factors considered in their investment products or services, while labeling and marketing themselves in a manner that makes it difficult for investors to distinguish them from funds and advisers that are truly using environmental and sustainability strategies. [1]
Sources and review dates
Reviewed 23 October 2026. Historical dates and award-time affiliations retain their original context. A review date is not an event date. Background sources are identified separately from official records.