The Greenwashing Model in Tech for Good

Published 2023-12-02

Hello again! It’s day 2 of our special Christmas countdown where we look at concerning trends in Tech for Good. Today, we’ll be looking at a phenomenon similar to the concept of greenwashing. Just like how some companies falsely claim to be environmentally friendly, many 'Tech for Good' initiatives are more about appearances than actual impact. A good example of this is companies that purchase ‘accessibility overlay’ products and describe themselves as WCAG compliant instead of working with di

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Day 2 of 25 days of Tech for Good reality checks. Is Tech for Good the new greenwashing?

Hello again! It’s day 2 of our special Christmas countdown where we look at concerning trends in Tech for Good. Today, we’ll be looking at a phenomenon similar to the concept of greenwashing.

Just like how some companies falsely claim to be environmentally friendly, many 'Tech for Good' initiatives are more about appearances than actual impact.

A good example of this is companies that purchase ‘accessibility overlay’ products and describe themselves as WCAG compliant instead of working with disabled people to test and ensure the accessibility of their products and services. And just to clarify: no, those overlays are not accessible. Never have been.

The simple truth behind this 'greenwashing' approach in tech is this: these initiatives often serve more as marketing strategies than genuine efforts to create social change. The sad thing is it's not only misleading, but it diverts attention away from tech solutions that are actually impactful and work well to solve the users’ needs.

The bottom line is this: Tech for Good should be more than just a good branding tool.

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