Setting out to reach net zero is a goal that all businesses should strive to achieve. Net zero is an important target that involves completely negating the amount of greenhouse gases produced by human activity. Therefore, working towards net zero is vital for our planet.
However, many companies are guilty of “green hushing”. This is where they don’t promote any net zero plans and are quiet about their commitments to sustainability because they don’t have any procedures in place to tackle these environmental issues.
Greenwashing is another term often used for companies that market themselves as more environmentally friendly than they actually act on minimising its environmental impact. It’s a deceitful marketing tactic intended to mislead consumers who prefer to buy goods and services from environmentally conscious brands.
In 2021, a well-known high street brand, failed to meet their sustainability commitments, and this fast fashion brand faced a lawsuit for greenwashing in July 2021.
30% of UK businesses have reported taking no action to reduce their carbon emissions and this is a major issue. Green hushing is a growing trend amongst corporates as they see it as a way to avoid greenwashing accusations, and green hushing is arguably a direct result of greenwashing.
John Willis, Planet Tracker’s director of research, feels that some business’s reasons for green hushing have changed over time. For many businesses, they used green hushing as a result of the fear of showcasing sustainability. However, now, business tend to green hush as a more deliberate attempt to withhold information and avoid bad press.
Working towards net zero isn’t as difficult as it may sound. There are many steps businesses can take to reduce their carbon emissions and become more sustainable. For example, companies can install energy efficient solutions such as LED lighting or switch to Solar PV as a power source and reduce their grid dependence. Solar is a renewable energy source, so as a result, will reduce emissions and enable businesses to generate their own renewable electricity and protect the environment.