Launch Edition: Unveiling The Green Dossier on True Sustainability

When thinking about the 21st century, most people focus on the trivial stuff: the social media revolution, marketing exposure, wars, pandemics, technological advancement, and more. Yes, some of these are crucial for the progress of humanity, but people often overlook what’s right under their noses. Significant research in technology, medicine, and other fields undoubtedly translates into progress—a factor humans have always pursued. However, in the 21st century, people have truly forgotten about their own planet. Dealing with a sick planet means that at some point—the tipping point—it will eventually collapse, unnoticed by its inhabitants. Future generations will look back and say "wow, what a disgrace our parents were," simply because we couldn’t take care of our planet, which is actually quite simple. Of course, it’s impossible to stop big emerging countries like India or Brazil just by reprimanding them. However, this means that for example people in Austria fighting for a healthier planet see their efforts nullified because some people 6,000 kilometers away think it’s better to focus on economic returns for their own businesses rather than considering the near-future impact of climate change. And this is not even the tip of the iceberg, because the biggest polluters are not small or medium businesses but large corporations that shut their eyes and make others shut their eyes too! The enormous amount of sustainability initiatives often come with greenwashing practices behind them, but you probably don’t know this; it’s not your fault, but the fault of those who conduct dirty business just to fill their own pockets. We need to rewrite the story, rethink sustainability, and what we really mean by this term.

What is The Green Dossier?

The Green Dossier was born from a project created by Davide Ricciardi to stop business corporations from falsely claiming sustainability without proof. Many corporations believe that by paying external green organizations—who should act as independent third-party controllers to ensure full transparency—they can publicly declare themselves sustainable and justify their dirty practices. This has to end: most people in the business environment prioritize profits over the planet’s health. They don’t mind polluting even more if it means adjusting their annual balance to look better in front of shareholders. This is why The Green Dossier was created: shareholders hold less responsibility than stakeholders, and therefore the latter should have more influence over a company.

If you’re new to business economics, you might wonder who shareholders and stakeholders are. Here’s a practical example: imagine you live near a large industry. This industry, to make its supply chain work and produce a final product, incurs some costs. Shareholders have equity stakes in that industry and therefore share its revenue. It’s clear that if the industry sells a lot at lower costs, shareholders are happy because the revenue increases. However, you, living nearby, are a stakeholder because you’re affected by the presence of that industry. If the industry keeps costs low by polluting more, you get the toxic inhalation into your living space. You might not notice it immediately, but you’ll notice it at the end of your life when you might die of cancer because you lived near that industry. This is a common occurrence, though media avoids saying so for obvious reasons.

This happened in Taranto, Southern Italy, where a company called ILVA, a steel industry, polluted its city so much that many people died, and it’s still running. And this is just one example out of thousands, especially in low-economy countries or even emerging ones like India or China. Is it fair that inhabitants near these big industries are badly affected by their productivity with no benefits for them? The answer is clear. Additionally, is it fair to portray those industries—which greenwash their image through social media—as paragons of sustainability? The answer remains clear.

Our Mission

The mission of The Green Dossier is to empower people to truly understand sustainability and differentiate between businesses that merely talk about it and those that genuinely make a positive impact on the planet. We’re not against PowerPoint presentations, but they can sometimes replace real action with empty promises. Just because a company claims to be sustainable in a report doesn’t mean they are—it might just be greenwashing.

Take, for example, an article from The Brussels Times . It reported that "Brussels Airlines and 19 other airlines have been warned by the European Commission for making misleading 'green' claims. In June 2023, complaints were filed against airlines like Lufthansa, Air France-KLM, and Ryanair for 'greenwashing' their CO2 emissions. The European Consumer Organisation backed these complaints. An investigation found airlines misleadingly claimed passengers could offset carbon emissions by paying fees for climate projects or 'sustainable aviation fuel,' but there’s no solid proof. The Commission criticized the use of terms like 'green' and 'sustainable,' noting that aviation is highly polluting and CO2 calculations lacked transparency."

You might have flown with one of these airlines, unaware that the European Commission and the BEUC - The European Consumer Organisation —label them as greenwashers. When you book a ticket, they often ask if you’d like to pay extra to offset your CO2 emissions, something they should be covering themselves. They’re profiting while you foot the bill for their environmental impact. Curious about their revenue? The internet can tell you in no time!

Conclusion

By now, you should understand what our newsletter is all about. We publish bi-weekly, naming and shaming those who greenwash and praising those who genuinely embrace sustainability with proof. We’re tired of seeing greenwashing everywhere—in our news feeds, on social media, in TV ads, and on billboards. The Green Dossier will be your essential guide to uncovering the hidden truths behind corporate sustainability claims.

Our bi-weekly newsletter delivers in-depth investigative reports, expert insights, and actionable recommendations, all aimed at promoting genuine environmental and social impact. We focus on the sustainability practices of leading companies and consultants, exposing greenwashing and highlighting true efforts, ensuring you get the real story behind the headlines.

If you’re a top sustainability expert and want to collaborate or share your opinion, feel free to reach out. Our goal is to keep you informed about the latest trends, best practices, and innovative solutions driving the industry forward. We’ll explore case studies, provide actionable guides, and share community contributions.

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