Hindering Global Sustainability: A Systematic Literature Review of the Consequences of Greenwashing.

Ribeiro, Maria Isabel; Fernandes, António Pedro Ribeiro; Fernandes, Ana Isabel Ribeiro; Lopes, Isabel Maria; Fernandes, António

http://hdl.handle.net/10198/37048

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Autores

Ribeiro, Maria Isabel

Fernandes, António Pedro Ribeiro

Fernandes, Ana Isabel Ribeiro

Lopes, Isabel Maria

Fernandes, António

Resumo(s)

Greenwashing refers to deceptive green marketing strategies used by companies and organizations to enhance their competitive edge and generate higher profits by appealing to environmentally conscious consumers. This practice arises when the actions of these entities do not align with the claims they make regarding their environmental performance. The primary objective of this research was to examine the implications of greenwashing practices. To achieve this objective, a systematic literature review was conducted in the Scopus database on August 21, 2023, following predefined criteria and the guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Based on these selection criteria, 15 relevant documents were analyzed. Most of these were academic articles categorized into nine distinct thematic areas, highlighting the cross-disciplinary nature of greenwashing. The study's findings revealed numerous consequences of greenwashing, affecting various stakeholders, including consumers, investors, partner companies, owners or shareholders, and society. Greenwashing was shown to generate confusion and misinformation, intensify consumer skepticism, alter purchasing decisions, reduce corporate profitability, and cause ethical damage by manipulating societal values towards excessive consumerism. Furthermore, it adversely impacts public well-being and societal interests, erodes trust in companies and organizations, obstructs efforts toward sustainable consumption, and contributes to a significant decline in consumer confidence.

Palavras-chave

Stakeholders Greenwashing practices Misleading advertising Sustainability

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10198/37048

Citação

Ribeiro, M.I.B.; Fernandes, A.P.R.; Fernandes, A.I.R.; Lopes, I.M.; Fernandes, A.J.G. (2026). Hindering Global Sustainability: A Systematic Literature Review of the Consequences of Greenwashing. Journal of Organizational Management Studies. ISSN 2166-0816 2026. p. 1-14