What is greenwashing - and how to make use of old towels
You can spot greenwashing by vague words like 'eco' without a certificate. Find out how to avoid it and how to genuinely extend the life of promotional towels in your business.
Greenwashing is a marketing practice in which a company presents itself as environmentally responsible without its actual actions reflecting that. You can spot it by vague terms like “eco” without evidence, missing certifications and an emphasis on one green detail while the rest of the production remains unchanged.
When choosing promotional textiles, it is therefore worth asking about specific materials and certifications rather than labels.
How to recognise greenwashing
The most common signals are vague words without evidence (“ecological”, “green”), a focus on one detail rather than the whole (“recycled packaging” with an otherwise unchanged product) and missing certifications. Credibility is confirmed by standards such as GOTS, OEKO-TEX or OCS.
If you communicate sustainability, branded items should genuinely live up to it. Otherwise you risk customers noticing the inconsistency, which damages trust far more than not raising the topic at all.
How to reuse old promotional towels
Extending the life of textiles is a concrete and genuine eco step. A worn promotional towel doesn’t have to end up in the bin:
- as cleaning and polishing rags for a workshop or kitchen,
- as filling for a pet bed,
- as protective padding when moving and packing fragile items,
- cut into smaller pieces for the garden or garage.
Choose textiles that last
The most sustainable textile is one that doesn’t need to be replaced often. A quality towel or bath sheet with a durably applied logo lasts for years, reducing both waste and costs. We are happy to advise on material and certification choices and prepare a quote that stands up to scrutiny on sustainability.
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A marketing practice in which a company presents itself as environmentally responsible without its actual actions reflecting that. It typically uses vague words like 'eco' without evidence, highlights one green detail and lacks any certifications.
Ask for the specific material and certification rather than a vague 'eco' label. Credibility is confirmed by independent standards such as GOTS or OEKO-TEX, not a marketing sticker.
They work well as cleaning and polishing rags, as bedding filling for pets, as protective wrapping when moving, or cut into smaller pieces for use in the workshop or garden. Extending the life of textiles is a genuine eco step.
