Final answer:
Greenwashing is the practice of misleading consumers about the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service. It aims to make a company appear more environmentally friendly than it is, often for profit motives.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term greenwashing refers to the deceptive practice by some companies of marketing their products or practices as environmentally friendly, or 'green', when in reality, they are not significantly contributing to environmental sustainability. These companies might highlight certain eco-friendly aspects of their products while ignoring or hiding the negative environmental impacts they are actually causing. For instance, the natural gas industry may advertise natural gas as a cleaner alternative to coal, failing to mention the methane leaks during drilling, extraction, and transportation which contribute to global warming. Similarly, some forms of ecotourism may proclaim to preserve and protect the environment, yet in practice, they may exploit and harm the very habitats they are claiming to save. Moreover, the use of the term 'green' in advertising is often employed to create a favorable environmental image, thus aiming to increase profits by appealing to consumers who are concerned about environmental issues.