Presenter: Deon van der Westhuizen – Qualifications: CA(SA), CIA, CTA – Experience: 40 years
Course objective
SG Greenwashing: Unmasking Deceptive Sustainability Practices in Business is a specialized course designed to critically examine the phenomenon of greenwashing within the context of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles. Greenwashing refers to the deceptive use of marketing and public relations tactics to portray a company as environmentally friendly or socially responsible, when its practices and policies do not align with the promoted image. This course provides a comprehensive exploration of greenwashing strategies, their impact on stakeholders and society, and methods to identify, combat, and prevent such deceptive practices. Through case studies, real-world examples, ethical analyses, and interactive discussions, participants will develop a nuanced understanding of greenwashing and its implications for sustainable business practices and ethical corporate behavior.
Course content
- Ethics and Sustainability – Overview of ESG factors and their significance, Understanding sustainability as a strategic imperative, Legal and ethical considerations in sustainability reporting.
- Foundations of ESG – Environmental, social, and governance dimensions, ESG frameworks and standards, The role of ESG in investment decisions and stakeholder relations.
- Sustainability Reporting – Purpose/benefits of sustainability reporting, Key components of sustainability reports, Global reporting initiatives and frameworks.
- ESG Metrics and Indicators – Identifying relevant ESG metrics, Setting ESG targets and benchmarks, Data collection/ reporting methodologies.
- Greenwashing Defined – Defining greenwashing and its impact, Recognizing common greenwashing tactics. Identify greenwashing in marketing/ branding.
- Legal and Regulatory Framework – Laws/ regulations related to greenwashing, Compliance requirements for accurate sustainability reporting, Consequences of greenwashing.
- Measuring Environmental Impact – Carbon footprint assessment, Water and resource usage analysis, Biodiversity and ecosystem assessment.
- Detecting and Combating Greenwashing – Strategies for evaluating sustainability claims, Third-party certifications and audits, Develop a greenwashing risk assessment.
- Case Studies and Industry Examples – Analysing real-world cases of greenwashing and ethical reporting, Learn from companies’ successes/ failures.
- Audit and Assurance – Auditing ESG data and reporting, Assurance services & sustainability reports.
