Chevron, Greenwashing, and the Myth of 'Green Oil Companies'

Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment, Vol. 3, 2012

22 Pages Posted: 3 Nov 2011 Last revised: 21 Jul 2023

See all articles by Miriam A. Cherry

Miriam A. Cherry

St. John’s University - School of Law

Judd F. Sneirson

Southern University Law Center

Date Written: November 2, 2011

Abstract

As green business practices grow in popularity, so does the temptation to “greenwash” one’s business to appear more environmentally and socially responsible than it actually is. We examined this phenomenon in an earlier paper, using BP and the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe as a case study and developing a framework for policing dubious claims of corporate social responsibility. This Article revisits these issues focusing on Chevron, an oil company that claims in its advertisements to care deeply about the environment and the communities in which it operates, even as it faces an $18 billion judgment for polluting the Ecuadorean Amazon and injuring its people. After describing Chevron’s “we agree” advertising campaign, the Article sets out our framework for approaching “faux” corporate social responsibility, gauges whether misled consumers and investors might have a legal remedy as a result of Chevron’s advertising claims, and proposes refinements to better regulate corporate greenwashing.

Keywords: chevron, greenwashing, green business, sustainability, securities fraud, false advertising, dodd-frank, csr, corporate social responsibility

JEL Classification: K22, K32

Suggested Citation

Cherry, Miriam A. and Sneirson, Judd F., Chevron, Greenwashing, and the Myth of 'Green Oil Companies' (November 2, 2011). Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment, Vol. 3, 2012, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1953329

Miriam A. Cherry

St. John’s University - School of Law ( email )

United States

Judd F. Sneirson (Contact Author)

Southern University Law Center ( email )

2 Roosevelt Steptoe Drive
Baton Rouge, LA 70813
United States

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