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From the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Criteria to the Greenwashing Phenomenon: A Comprehensive Literature Review About the Causes, Consequences and Solutions of the Phenomenon with Specific Case Studies

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  • Evanthia K. Zervoudi

    (Department of Business Administration, University of the Aegean, 82100 Chios, Greece)

  • Nikos Moschos

    (Department of Business Administration, University of the Aegean, 82100 Chios, Greece)

  • Apostolos G. Christopoulos

    (Department of Business Administration, University of the Aegean, 82100 Chios, Greece)

Abstract

Greenwashing, the phenomenon of misleading stakeholders concerning the environmental sustainability efforts of a company, may undermine the trust of people to a company or to a whole industry and the progress toward sustainability. This paper provides an extensive Literature Review about the evolution of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) criteria and their relationship with the Greenwashing Phenomenon. It also examines the historical and regulatory contexts, causes, consequences and mitigation strategies of this phenomenon. By analyzing the market distortions and the environmental harm that may be linked to the Greenwashing Phenomenon, the study highlights the need for enhanced regulation, improved transparency and stakeholder vigilance. The methods employed in this paper include a thematic analysis of the literature and qualitative case study comparisons to derive insights into the multifarious impacts of greenwashing. Such case studies provided in this paper concern companies such as Volkswagen, Zara, Coca-Cola and BP.

Suggested Citation

  • Evanthia K. Zervoudi & Nikos Moschos & Apostolos G. Christopoulos, 2025. "From the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Criteria to the Greenwashing Phenomenon: A Comprehensive Literature Review About the Causes, Consequen," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-26, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:5:p:2222-:d:1604988
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Gunnar Friede & Timo Busch & Alexander Bassen, 2015. "ESG and financial performance: aggregated evidence from more than 2000 empirical studies," Journal of Sustainable Finance & Investment, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 5(4), pages 210-233, October.
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    4. Renneboog, Luc & Ter Horst, Jenke & Zhang, Chendi, 2008. "The price of ethics and stakeholder governance: The performance of socially responsible mutual funds," Journal of Corporate Finance, Elsevier, vol. 14(3), pages 302-322, June.
    5. Peter Seele & Lucia Gatti, 2017. "Greenwashing Revisited: In Search of a Typology and Accusation‐Based Definition Incorporating Legitimacy Strategies," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 26(2), pages 239-252, February.
    6. Thomas P. Lyon & John W. Maxwell, 2011. "Greenwash: Corporate Environmental Disclosure under Threat of Audit," Journal of Economics & Management Strategy, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 20(1), pages 3-41, March.
    7. Adriana Liute & Maria Rosa De Giacomo, 2022. "The environmental performance of UK‐based B Corp companies: An analysis based on the triple bottom line approach," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(3), pages 810-827, March.
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