Redefining Sustainability: The End of Greenwashing

In their insightful articles (here and here), Professors Arne Nygaard and Ragnhild Silkoset highlight the pervasive issue of greenwashing, where companies falsely present products as environmentally friendly, thereby eroding consumer trust and undermining genuine sustainability efforts.

They eloquently argue that blockchain technology is the key to tackling greenwashing by ensuring that sustainability claims are traceable, transparent and verifiable. At UNISOT, we see blockchain not just as a technical solution but as a foundational element in redefining trust in global supply chains. Our Digital Product Passports (DPP), powered by Enterprise Blockchain technology, provide an immutable and transparent record of a product’s entire lifecycle. This aligns with Nygaard and Silkoset’s emphasis on the need for reliable, traceable, and tamper-proof product information to mitigate greenwashing.

UNISOT’s Solutions in Action

Full Transparency Across the Supply Chain

Nygaard and Silkoset stress the importance of transparency, emphasizing that consumers and regulators demand trustworthy documentation of environmental claims. UNISOT’s blockchain-based platform ensures that data entered at every step of the supply chain -whether it’s sourcing raw materials, manufacturing or distribution – is immutably stored and easily accessible.

Example:
A clothing manufacturer can prove its fabrics are made from 100% recycled materials, with verifiable data on sourcing, energy use and CO₂ emissions. This aligns with the authors’ call for “proof, not promises.”

Trust Through Decentralized Verification

The authors criticize the traditional reliance on centralized certification bodies, which can be susceptible to errors, biases or even corruption. Blockchain decentralizes this process, enabling all participants in the supply chain to input, audit and access data independently.

UNISOT’s Impact:
Smart Digital Twins provide a decentralized, interactive record of each product, ensuring that sustainability claims are verified by multiple stakeholders – not just the company making the claim.

Consumer Empowerment Through Digital Product Passports

Nygaard and Silkoset highlight how blockchain can empower consumers by giving them easy access to verified product data. UNISOT’s DPPs make this a reality. By scanning a QR code or NFC tag, consumers can instantly access a product’s history, including:

Carbon footprint

Ethical Sourcing Certifications

Compliance with environmental standards

Example:
A customer buying sustainable seafood can verify that the fish was ethically farmed, transported with minimal emissions, and complies with regulatory standards like the EU Digital Product Passport mandate.

Combating Greenwashing with Immutable Data

A key point raised by Nygaard and Silkoset is the role of blockchain in preventing greenwashing by ensuring data integrity. Companies can no longer alter or selectively report data to present a false image of sustainability.

UNISOT’s Solution:
Our Enterprise Blockchain backbone ensures that every claim – whether about emissions, sourcing or recycling – is recorded in a tamper-proof manner. Any discrepancy between what is claimed and what the data shows is immediately apparent.

Real-Time Monitoring and Reporting

Nygaard and Silkoset emphasize the importance of real-time tracking to provide accurate and up-to-date information. UNISOT’s integration with IoT devices ensures that real-time data on energy use, emissions and material flows is continuously recorded and accessible.

“Blockchain technology offers a more robust solution against the risk of greenwashing than traditional trademarks and certification systems.” – Professors Arne Nygaard and Ragnhild Silkoset

Why This Matters

Nygaard and Silkoset argue that trust is the cornerstone of a sustainable economy and that companies who invest in transparency and verifiability stand to gain a competitive advantage. With upcoming regulatory changes, such as the EU’s Digital Product Passport and increasing consumer demands for transparency, companies that fail to act risk not only fines but also irreparable damage to their reputation.

UNISOT: Turning Vision Into Reality

By adopting UNISOT’s solutions, companies can move beyond vague sustainability claims and embrace a future where every claim is backed by immutable data, every product has a story, and every consumer has the power to make informed decisions.

The battle against greenwashing isn’t just about avoiding bad press; it’s about building a better, more sustainable world. As Professors Nygaard and Silkoset highlight, blockchain technology is the solution to unethical practices, and UNISOT is here to lead the way.

Reach out to us to explore how UNISOT’s solutions can transform your business into a beacon of trust and transparency.