Expert Conference on Greenwashing

At the invitation of the ESG Impact Network and the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, we took part in the First Roundtable of Experts on Greenwashing.

The goal of the roundtable, which brought together representatives of public administration, NGOs, consumer organizations, research institutions, and businesses, was to seek cross-sectoral and effective solutions to combat greenwashing.

The experts formulated, among other things, 10 key recommendations, recognizing that the fight against greenwashing requires:

Broad ecological education – starting in schools and extending to value chain and supply chain partners,
Consumer education – regarding the value of certifications and the ambiguity of other environmental claims,
Changing the language – rejecting misleading “green” narratives and the unaccountable use of environmental terminology,
Deeds before words – basing communications on actual research, certifications, and evidence,
Consultation between the Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) and businesses, including conclusions from proceedings on greenwashing,
Focus on the SME sector – while large players have more resources, SMEs are the backbone of the market and currently lack support and clear rules of the game,
Inevitability of sanctions for greenwashing – clear legislative frameworks and accountability mechanisms,
Clarification of existing regulations – on competition and consumer protection, combating unfair competition, as well as Articles 27 and 16b of the 1992 Broadcasting Act,
Development and dissemination of best practices – both within sectors and across industries,
Inclusion of sustainable development and greenwashing on the agenda of Poland’s presidency of the EU Council.