USW Slams DuPont Over Greenwashing

The United Steelworkers says that instead of being a “sustainable” chemical company, DuPont engages in “greenwashing,” LOHAS reports.

A key aspect of the USW report (PDF) details the climate impact of DuPont’s products, which, according to the article, the chemical giant has refused to calculate.

“DuPont is skillful in giving the public the impression it truly is concerned and engaging in activities to create a ‘better, safer, healthier planet,’ but when its profit motive collides with the environment, profit usually wins out,” said USW International president Leo Gerard.

Behind DuPont’s green public image, the company engages in behind-the-scenes lobbying to control the regulation of environmental issues, according to the USW. The Union also says that by participating in voluntary reporting efforts, the company can avoid revealing anything but the most general and favorable information, while avoiding facility-level reporting that would present a more accurate and problematic picture.