Greenwashing: a legal mechanism to counteract

Abstract

The UN Sustainable Development Goals until 2030 are aimed at solving global problems, including poverty and hunger, disease, unsanitary conditions, environmental pollution, consumer attitudes towards natural resources. Their solution is seen in the sustainable development of mankind. The basis of sustainable development is the responsible consumption of all sides of the greening process: states, business structures, society. The environmental agenda for the 21st century forms the trend of corporate governance based on the principles of ESG. However, a certain part of manufacturers, under the guise of a “green” mission, produce products that do not meet environmental requirements. In recent years, more and more people talk about greenwashing. Despite the fact that states are taking certain measures to counter greenwashing, its share is only increasing. The problem of greenwashing is multifaceted and includes unfair competition, violation of consumer rights, discredit of corporate social responsibility, restriction of intellectual property, underdevelopment of the market for environmentally friendly and organic products. If in foreign countries the problem of greenwashing has been discussed for several decades, in the Russian Federation attention has been paid to this problem only in recent years. The imperfection of legal regulation contributes to the development of greenwashing. The purpose of this article is to analyze the legislative requirements for manufactured products (using the example of agricultural and food products) and the processes of their production, processing, storage and sale, measures to counter greenwashing, identify legal gaps and formulate possible legislative proposals aimed at solving greenwashing problems. The experience of combating greenwashing in the countries — Russia’s strategic partners has been studied. Proposals have been formulated to improve the legal mechanism for counteracting greenwashing.