Discussion Questions

After reading “The ‘Six Sins of Greenwashing’: A Study of Environmental Claims in North American Markets ," (http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/greengudesregreview/533431-00040.pdf) discuss the tension between businesses interests in maximizing profits and the public’s interest in receiving complete, truthful, and non-misleading information about products that they purchase. From a business perspective, what are the dangers of “greenwashing”? If you were a marketing executive, would you have a policy against “greenwashing”? Why or why not?

Read the U.S. Small Business Administration’s article, titled Environmental Regulations(http://www.sba.gov/content/environmental-regulations), and visit the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s “Laws & Regulations”(http://www2.epa.gov/laws-regulations) page.