We are seeing an explosion in use of unsubstantiated and unevidenced green marketing claims – a problem that has been labelled ‘the great greenwashing’ and drawn the attention of consumer and financial regulators, as well as environmental activist lawyers. Greenwashing takes advantages of citizens’ desire to do good by representing that corporations can be trusted to take social and environmental responsibility to reverse global heating, address the plastic waste crisis, and create a green, circular economy. But green claims are commonly manipulated and monetised for consumption via a sea of claims that coagulate into a sludge distracting us from possibilities for more transformative change. In this talk, Prof Christine Parker will draw on socio legal research and the notion of ‘ecological regulation’ to critically evaluate the use of consumer law enforcement action and ESG disclosure regimes to stem this tide of sludge.
For in-person attendees, the MCCL welcomes you to join us for drinks and light snacks after the seminar.
