What is commonly practiced as a method to enhance a company's image without genuine environmental efforts?

Greenwashing is the practice that is commonly recognized as a method to enhance a company's image without making genuine efforts towards environmental responsibility. This term refers to misleading marketing that promotes an organization or its products as environmentally friendly, while in reality, the company's actions may not align with sustainable practices. By engaging in greenwashing, companies can create a façade of environmental concern and responsibility, often to appeal to increasingly environmentally-conscious consumers.

This typically involves exaggerated claims about the environmental benefits of a product, misleading information about the company's practices, or emphasizing minor environmentally-friendly initiatives while neglecting more significant ecological impacts. Greenwashing can undermine genuine efforts to promote sustainability, as it can mislead stakeholders and reduce accountability for real environmental practices.

In contrast, sustainable development involves creating policies or practices that truly support economic, social, and environmental sustainability. Eco-friendly branding refers to genuine attempts to market products based on their actual environmental benefits. Corporate social responsibility encompasses a broader spectrum of ethical practices companies are encouraged to adopt, which includes but is not limited to, environmental initiatives.