How to prevent greenwashing? Review of environmental auditing and accountability frameworks

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to describe and critically review the existing environmental auditing and accountability frameworks and assess their role in mitigating greenwashing practices. Design/methodology/approach This paper provides a critical and comparative analysis of 18 existing European environmental reporting frameworks and norms. The research team adapted the single-item management prioritisation scale to assess their quality in terms of geographical coverage, sectoral applicability, comprehensiveness and relevance to planetary boundaries. The ranking results identified eight highest-ranked frameworks, namely, GRI, ISO 14001, ISO 26000, ESRS, B Corporation, TCFD, CDP and EMAS, which were further studied and their strengths and weaknesses evaluated. Findings This paper concludes that environmental audits are currently one of the most effective ways to reduce greenwashing and improve a company’s environmental performance. However, to make audits more accessible, it is crucial to adapt reporting mechanisms to the capacities of small and medium-sized enterprises. Future standards should use existing modern tools to improve data collection and reporting. For this, the use of artificial intelligence, automatic data mining and reporting is encouraged as a subject of public policy initiatives, covering the implementation costs. Integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence will make audits more efficient and less burdensome for companies. Originality/value This analysis provides a better understanding of current standards and identifies best practices for developing a more standardised framework in the future.