Prosecuting Greenwashing: The Scope and Constraints of Criminal Law in Combating Deceptive Sustainability Claims

Key Points

• Criminal law's applicability in addressing greenwashing has significant implications for sustainability claims made by companies.
• The framework underscored in regulatory practices reveals critical gaps and challenges in prosecuting deceptive claims effectively.
• Analysis of deceptive practices in sustainability highlights the need for clear legal definitions to enhance enforcement efforts.
• Prosecuting greenwashing under current criminal law may enable stronger accountability for misleading sustainability assertions.

Abstract