Greenwashing: Navigating Corporate Sustainability

October 2024

We hosted an insightful conversation with Laura Hammargren and Chris Bell from Greenberg Traurig LLP, where we explored the issue of greenwashing in corporate sustainability efforts. Attendees learned what greenwashing is, the legal and reputational risks it poses, and the strategies businesses can adopt to avoid misleading eco-friendly claims. They also gained critical insights into the legal, reputational, and financial consequences of greenwashing and how to promote authentic sustainability practices.

Laura and Chris explored the definition of greenwashing, discussing its implications for companies and the various legal claims that can arise from misleading environmental statements. They provided practical insights into how product development and R&D teams can mitigate risks by aligning closely with marketing strategies and ensuring claims are backed by reliable data.

The episode also touches on the global landscape of greenwashing regulations and the importance of accurate and truthful communication in avoiding potential lawsuits. Whether you’re in the B2C or B2B sector, this discussion offers valuable guidance on how to approach sustainability claims responsibly.

Laura Hammargren is a Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig in its Minneapolis office.  Laura focuses her national litigation practice on complex toxic and other mass torts and investigations. Having served for years as in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 multi-national manufacturer, Laura has acute insight into managing high-stakes litigation and settlement teams, navigating evolving regulatory and political dynamics in ligation about products and environmental issues, and proactively working with business management to understand litigation issues. Laura also devotes significant time to pro bono, focused particularly on helping survivors of domestic violence, and civic organizations. 

Chris Bell represents clients in civil and criminal enforcement and investigations, litigation, compliance counseling, emergency incident response, and legislative and regulatory advocacy (including appellate challenges to rulemakings) under all of the major environmental, health, safety and natural resource laws. His enforcement experience includes internal investigations, responding to grand jury investigations and agency information requests, and negotiating consent, probation, and debarment agreements. He recently completed a 5-year stint as the EPA Independent Monitor overseeing Duke Energy’s compliance with complex debarment and probation agreements arising from the resolution of a criminal enforcement case brought under the Clean Water Act.