#259
Context:-I was on call with couple of American ex-colleagues,(EHS) who head Global Environmental Group for their organisation. (We catch up once in quarter, this time the topic was Sustainability). We all Drop it like a hot potato. Hence the blog how a genuine effort with good intention has been hijacked.
Sustainability is a word everyone hears these days—companies, governments, even NGOs throw it around like confetti. It’s supposed to mean saving the planet, cutting waste, and living responsibly. But for many, it’s turned into a big joke. People don’t see it as something that adds value. Instead, they see fake promises, flashy reports, and leaders who don’t care. Here’s why sustainability efforts have gone off track, with some Indian mess-ups to show how bad it can get.
Glossy Reports, No Real Work
Companies love showing off sustainability reports—thick, shiny booklets with pretty pictures and big promises like “carbon-neutral by 2050.” But where’s the action? Too often, these are just marketing tricks. Globally, H&M got caught in 2021 when a Changing Markets Foundation report said 96% of their “sustainable” claims for their “Conscious Collection” were fake. Closer home, Tata Power bragged about renewable energy in their reports, but in 2022, activists pointed out their coal plants were still chugging along, pumping out emissions. People laughed and said, “Report likha, kaam bhool gaye” (Wrote the report, forgot the work).
Run by Suits, Not Engineers
Sustainability needs people who know the ground—like environmental engineers who understand emissions or water systems. But who’s running the show? Corporate folks with MBAs and finance degrees, sitting in fancy offices, far from factories or villages. They make plans that sound good but don’t work. Look at Volkswagen—their “clean diesel” lie in 2015 was cooked up by execs, not engineers. They faked emissions tests, got caught by the US EPA, and paid billions in fines. In India, Hindustan Unilever (HUL) pushed “sustainable living” but got flak in 2020 when their Kodaikanal plant’s old mercury mess still wasn’t fully cleaned up. Netas and suits talked big, but the engineers were sidelined.
Flashy Targets That Don’t Add Up
When a company says “Net Zero by 2030” or “100% green energy,” it sounds amazing—too amazing. These loud goals often feel like stunts to grab headlines, not real plans. BP promised to be “carbon neutral” by 2050, but kept drilling oil, and in 2022, activists trashed their sustainability report online. In India, Adani Green Energy claims it’s the “world’s largest renewable company,” but critics in 2023 pointed out their coal business was still growing. Flashy targets with no clear “how” make people say, “Yeh toh bas drama hai” (This is just drama).
Tied to ESG—Making It Worse
ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) was supposed to help, but it’s become a problem. It mixes real green efforts with vague social and governance stuff, confusing everyone. Worse, it’s linked to scandals. Deutsche Bank’s DWS paid a $19 million fine in 2023 for fake ESG claims—their “green” funds weren’t green at all. In India, SEBI’s Business Responsibility Reporting (BSR) asks big firms to report on sustainability, but a 2022 study by Due Diligence Hub found many reports were full of holes. ESG drags down even the good efforts, making them look fake.
Greenwashing to Fool Buyers
Greenwashing is when companies slap “eco-friendly” labels on stuff to sell more, even if it’s a lie. Nestlé got caught for calling their bottled water “sustainable” while adding to plastic waste piles. In India, Patanjali sold “organic” products with big green claims, but in 2021, tests showed some had chemicals—hardly organic! Customers felt cheated and stopped trusting “green” tags. When sustainability is just a sales trick, people lose faith.
Funds Go Missing or Dry Up
Money for sustainability either gets “diverted” (a nice way to say siphoned off) or isn’t enough to begin with. Efforts start with a bang, then fizzle out like a damp squib. Globally, FIFA’s 2022 World Cup in Qatar promised a “carbon-neutral” event, but reports showed funds went more to PR than green work. In India, the Smart Cities Mission was supposed to make cities sustainable, but by 2023, many projects—like Bhubaneswar’s solar plans—were stuck due to cash shortages or “adjustments.” People said, “Paise gaye, plan gaya” (Money gone, plan gone).
Leaders Who Don’t Practice What They Preach
Nothing kills trust like hypocrisy. Leaders talk about climate change at big events, then live lives that scream the opposite. Al Gore, the famous climate guy, got called out years ago for his energy-hogging mansion. In India, politicians and CEOs preach “go green,” but drive SUVs and build huge homes. A 2022 report by Down To Earth caught a Maharashtra minister pushing solar power while his own office ran on diesel gensets. When leaders don’t walk the talk, people think, “Yeh toh double game hai” (This is a double game).
No Strict Rules to Catch Fakes
In many places, companies fake sustainability and get away with it. Weak rules mean no real punishment. In India, SEBI’s BSR is mandatory, but the data’s often dodgy—companies fudge numbers, and no one checks. Globally, a 2021 European Commission study found 42% of green claims were fake or exaggerated. But with a Republican administration in the US (post-2024), heavy ESG rules might ease up. Trump’s old EPA cut Obama-era regs, and a new shift could let firms focus on real environmental work, not fake reports. Fingers crossed!
Ignoring Workers and Locals
Sustainability plans often forget the people who matter—factory workers or villagers nearby. It’s all top-down, no input from below. Coca-Cola faced protests in Kerala for years over water depletion—their reports claimed “water positivity,” but locals said their wells were dry. In Tamil Nadu, Vedanta’s Sterlite plant promised “sustainable growth” in their reports, but pollution sparked riots in 2018, killing 13 people. When efforts don’t match ground reality, it’s a laughing stock.
Too Much Jargon, Too Little Sense
Open a sustainability report—words like “synergy,” “holistic,” or “paradigm shift” jump out. It’s nonsense to hide that nothing’s happening. People read it, shrug, and say, “Kuch samajh nahi aaya” (Didn’t understand a thing).
Indian Goof-Ups That Made It Worse
India’s had its share of sustainability mess-ups:
- Reliance Jio: They pushed “green telecom” with solar towers, but a 2021 audit showed many ran on diesel. Netizens trolled them, saying, “Green on paper, black in reality.”
- Delhi’s Odd-Even Scheme: Launched in 2016 to cut pollution, it was hyped as a sustainability win. But studies (IIT Delhi, 2018) showed little impact—people just bought more cars. It became a joke: “Pollution kam nahi, drama zyada.”
- Ganga Cleaning: The Namami Gange project got billions since 2014 to clean the river, but by 2023, CAG reports said sewage still flowed in. Politicians posed for pics, but the river stayed dirty—people called it “photo-op sustainability.”
Fact-Checking the Mess
The problems are real, and evidence backs them up:
- Greenwashing: H&M’s 96% fake claims (2021) and Patanjali’s chemical-laced “organic” stuff (2021) show it’s everywhere.
- ESG Trouble: DWS’s $19 million fine (2023) and India’s shaky BSR reports (2022) prove ESG can derail trust.
- US Shift: Trump’s EPA rolled back rules before, and a Republican win in 2024 could lighten ESG pressure, letting firms focus on practical green steps. Lee Zeldin the new EPA Cheif is set to run riots. (Oh Yes !his appointment, is one of few welcomed by everyone!).
- Mismatch with Values: Volkswagen’s Dieselgate (2015) and Vedanta’s Sterlite fiasco (2018) were caught out—both became global and local punchlines.
What’s the Way Forward?
Sustainability’s become a corporate drama because of fake promises, wrong leaders, and no accountability. But if rules loosen up—like maybe in the US with less ESG noise—companies could stop the circus and do real work. Engineers, not suits, need to lead. Call out the fakes, push practical steps, and maybe, just maybe, sustainability can stop being a joke and start adding value.
Karthik
20/3/25
Health, Environment, Safety, Sustainability (HESS) 