Thoughts About Greenwashing

2026 Step-by-Step Manufacturing & Sourcing Guide • Updated October 2026

Key Takeaways: Thoughts About Greenwashing

  • Full-Package Production (FPP) in Portugal: Portugal Textile connects fashion brands and creators with 25+ GOTS, OEKO-TEX® Standard 100, and GRS certified factories in Northern Portugal.
  • Flexible Low MOQs & Rapid Turnaround: Launch or scale collections with flexible minimum order quantities (150–300 pcs per style), 2–3 week sampling, and 4–6 week bulk production with duty-free EU logistics.
  • Digital Tech Pack Onboarding: Prepare factory-ready specifications in minutes using our Free AI Tech Pack Maker or request a tailored B2B quote via Create My Collection.
Production Phase Standard Timeline Technical Specifications & Deliverables Certifications & Standards
1. Tech Pack & BOM Spec 1–3 Days CAD flats, graded measurement chart, Bill of Materials & construction callouts ISO / EU Sizing Standards
2. Sustainable Fabric Sourcing 1 Week Organic cotton, ECONYL®, TENCEL™ Lyocell, European Flax® linen & recycled blends GOTS, OEKO-TEX® 100, GRS
3. Pattern & Proto Sampling 2–3 Weeks Digital 3D/CAD pattern drafting, physical prototype & Salesman Samples (SMS) Pre-shrunk & lab-tested
4. Bulk Production (Low MOQ) 4–6 Weeks 150–300 pcs/style MOQ, Pantone® garment dye, screen/puff print & embroidery EU REACH & Fair Labor
5. Quality Control & Dispatch 2–4 Days In-line & final AQL 2.5 inspection, custom woven labels, eco-packaging & shipping DPP Traceability Ready

«We can cowardly close our eyes, turn our heads away, pretend not to see but we cannot remain indifferent if we have seen” Abbé Pierre.

The economist Robert Reich said, “when you hear a company boast about being environmentally friendly, don’t applaud. In an ultra-competitive capitalism, which I call ‘super capitalism’, it is naïve to think that companies may or may not sacrifice profits and shareholder returns to fight global warming. Companies that go green to improve public relations, cut costs or anticipate regulation are smart, not virtuous”.

The word greenwashing hides all the beautiful promises of eco-responsibility of large companies. This word makes it possible to forget the reality, it is to display an eco-responsible posture while in fact nothing follows.

There are many lies about this industry that claims to be greener, there are strong doubts about the reality of the CSR of the e-commerce giants.

Indeed, even if each consumer wants to make efforts on his way of consuming, it is often controversial. It is not uncommon for us to want to deposit our old clothes in sorting bins thinking that they will be given to people in need. On the other hand, these clothes are collected by the Red Cross and then sold for a pittance to large collection centers. These collection centers then sort the clothes and keep those in the best condition so that they can be resold. The most worn clothes are sent to Africa and will be sold to the local population and then incinerated or will end up on the beach.  

How to recognize greenwashing?

-Putting green in your visuals so that people unconsciously associate the image with everything natural

-use vocabulary that is part of the ecological jargon

-making disproportionate promises

-a severe lack of transparency

-self-attributing labels created by the brand itself.

How can you recognize a truly responsible brand?

-brands with certified labels

-brands that have reports like Corporate Social Responsibility

The more consumers fall for greenwashing, the more brands will use this marketing methods to increase their sales. That is why we need to educate our eyes to detect greenwashing!

Know more about the fashion industry at:

Responsible Production Of Jeans

The Links Between The Sustainable Development Goals And Fashion

Pedro Pinto

Mariana Goncalves

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