Definition
Greenwashing is the misleading marketing that presents a company as more environmentally friendly than it actually is. Founders reach for it when a vague conversation needs a shared, specific meaning. Name it clearly, then let the next decision — a hire, a price, a test, or a pass — follow from that meaning.
In the room
How the word shows up in a real conversation.
In a Monday review, someone writes Greenwashing on the board and restates it: “Misleading marketing that presents a company as more environmentally friendly than it actually is.” The next move is a test, a cut, or a double-down — not another debate about the word.
Common mistake
Using Greenwashing as a label instead of a fact. If you cannot point to the evidence — a number, a customer, or a written assumption — you are using the word as jargon.
See also
Green product design
Design methodology that considers environmental impact throughout a product's lifecycle.
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Green production
Manufacturing processes that minimize environmental impact and resource consumption.
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Gross domestic product (GDP)
Total value of goods and services produced within a country's borders in a year.
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Gross profit
Revenue minus the direct costs of producing goods or services.
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