IndexIntroductionGreenwashing in advertisingTeslaSimple GreenConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionIntroduction: Many people have never heard of the word greenwashing until recently. The word greenwashing “is the practice of making an unfounded or misleading claim about the environmental benefits of a product, service, technology, or business practice” (Rouse). It gives the perception that the company is promoting a product that is claimed to be more environmentally friendly than it actually is. Many strive for a greener lifestyle and hope to gain greater health benefits by purchasing an item advertised as environmentally safe. The advertisements are clever by using buzzwords to help sell its product. Many consumers associate the color green with sustainability. This is a natural thing to assume since many people first thought of the word green by recycling or nature. Thesis Statement: While there are benefits to going green, some can cause negative environmental effects. Some may even go so far as to sell a product by stating certain things that are not true as “marketers could not only create new products and services, but they could also reposition existing ones to appear more environmentally friendly” (Corbett 141 ). Consumers would like to go green, both for its own benefits and to be socially acceptable and be seen as helping the environment. In one Simple Green ad, it appears to sell a cleaning product, but claims to be biodegradable and the only thing a consumer would ever need. Tesla's advertisement shows that the car is environmentally friendly. American culture has evolved to purchase products advertised as eco-friendly, however, this may not always be the case. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Greenwashing in AdvertisementsTeslaTopic Sentence: Tesla is known for producing cars that aim to be a zero-emission vehicle. It is much cheaper to maintain a car like this thanks to new and current technology. There would be a great saving because no amount of petrol is put into the point of sale. Teslas are powered by electricity as the company is aware of the current global warming situation. Global warming occurs due to pollution in addition to the amount of fossil fuels burned by other cars during daily transportation. Zero-emission cars have engines that do not release waste products that pollute the environment or damage the climate. Since no gas is used, it is considered a health benefit since Tesla does not produce pollution. Evidence and quotes: In this quote: “The environment itself is not for sale, but advertisers depend on the qualities and characteristics of the non-human world to aid in the selling message. When the natural world is thus represented, it becomes a convenient and culturally relevant tool to which meanings can be attributed for the purpose of selling goods and services” (Corbett 142), demonstrates that it confuses consumer morality. Comment: Makes consumers believe they are helping the environment, but in reality the ads are just sales pitches. Evidence and Quotes: In 2018, many were thinking about purchasing an electric vehicle: “Of those who said they wanted to purchase an electric vehicle, 80% cited environmental benefits as their primary motivation” (Barry). It is for the benefit of the company and to persuade the consumer with the image of a perfect environment without pollution and global warming. Topic sentence: in this image from the Tesla advertisement,It looks exceptionally minimalist. The car is glossy black with a gray gradient background, which makes it attractive to the eyes. The key symbol features a branch with many bright green leaves placed where a gas tank is supposedly located. This is a great placement as it appears the car doesn't deal with gas and is cautious about the environment where it is easy to see its promotion. Evidence and Quotes: The audience presented is those who want to make changes to their car and have a better lifestyle, as stated "Automakers can confidently target millennials, who have an early adoption attitude and broad technological knowledge" (Kiser, Essery) . Comment: It is clear that many Americans, especially millennials, want to contribute to a better environment through new technology. Topic sentence: The emotions aroused by the advertisement are happiness because it shows that Teslas are eco-friendly and will give the impulse to get this car. Evidence and Quotes: In this ad there is text that reads “Green has never looked so beautiful” which appeals to how it is green leaves that bring the connection of nature and its beauty. Comment: Seeing that a car is sustainable creates the feeling that you could contribute and help planet Earth by owning an electric vehicle. This suggests that Americans should buy this Tesla as it is environmentally friendly and would show others that they care about the earth. Simple Phrase from GreenTopic: Simple Green is an all-purpose cleaner, advertised as an environmentally friendly product. It is a powerful cleaner and degreaser for use inside and outside the home, making it practical for deep cleaning. It promotes non-toxicity and biodegradability, which makes consumers kill two birds with one stone by believing that it can benefit their health and be safe for the environment. While it may seem like a great product, it contains “2-butoxyethanol, a solvent absorbed through the skin that damages red blood cells and irritates the eyes; and a secret blend of alcohol ethoxylated surfactants, some of which are banned in the European Union” (EWG). Although the ingredients on the label are certainly not the best, it is contained in a plastic bottle with a spray dispenser. Plastic is known to create pollution for nature, people and wildlife as it can kill plants that provide us with oxygen or harm animals that don't know what it is. “Some green cleaners may have incorrectly labeled ingredients, and the third-party “eco labels” they advertise may be dubious. They may, in fact, contain some of the toxins you don't want to use” (D'Alessandro), which shows that its main purpose is to sell rather than be what it advertises. Comment: Americans are being manipulated through advertising by assuming that it would be useful as an everyday product. Topic sentence: In this advertisement, the main color scheme is green, including text and product images, with a natural background. This ad gives you the context of nature at a glance. Behind the lyrics, there is a man sitting on a deck chair in the background enjoying the outdoors, contextualizing that using the product is quick, easy and harmless to the surrounding environment. This caters to those who clean but are still aware of the ecosystem with expected health benefits. The emotions we would feel if we thought this ad was calm and refreshed, from the color "Green, which is the color of nature, is restful, relaxing, cheerful and healthy" (Cherry). The name of the product "Simple Green" is the brand and logo of the all purpose cleaner and also what promotes the intended purpose i.e. to beeco-friendly and simple. Green implies that it is eco-friendly and simple concludes with easy ingredients, without harsh ingredients. Another thing that attracts attention is the bottle. It is a spray bottle with green liquid with the brand name. The layout of the ad has the product placed on the left, the brand and some texts on the other half right and the background of a man sitting outdoors in a vivid green scenery which provides enough information that consumers need to know about this product. It's easy to see how it's positioned so your eyes can wander, intended to allow the audience to observe the product for longer. The image and text are all linked together as it says “The only cleaner and degreaser you will ever need. Non-toxic and biodegradable” (LLC), which implies that it is the best on the market and the only product you will commit to. The word non-toxic means that it is harmless, there is nothing in the product that would otherwise cause harm. There are always natural ways to clean that are much less toxic, such as using vinegar and hydrogen peroxide, which are all common household items that can do the same job. Topic Sentence: Similarly, American values ​​are environmentally friendly as a way of life. Comment: Both of these advertisements claim to be eco-friendly and eco-friendly products, although they are not what they seem. They convey messages with the color green and use the buzzword “green” to attract consumers' attention. Both are associated with nature as Tesla uses leaves to fulfill its purpose while Simple Green's ad is predominantly green with a natural background. Digging deeper, both of these products capture something that is actually not environmentally friendly. The reality of Teslas is not what consumers think, “it runs on lithium ion batteries which can actually harm the environment” (Mws) providing information that although it promotes good, it also has the downside of creating pollution and harm habitat. Simple Green contains some ingredients known to harm both the environment and the body despite being contained in plastic. In an article "The Language of Advertising", O'Neill states: "Advertising reflects and shapes our perception of reality", which is true and could manipulate a person's mindset about how products are viewed and about as they should be.Keep in mind: This is just one example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Conclusion Concluding Paragraph: American culture is known for purchasing products that are advertised as eco-friendly even though they presumably are not to consumers that the products are beneficial when purchased or used. Tesla's advertising makes it intriguing for consumers to think that purchasing this vehicle is easily associated with returning to the environment by not polluting. Similarly Simple Green expressed the same emotions in the lyrics, it is convincing consumers to buy it to feel strong by not harming the earth. This value impacts American culture as it forces others to be aware of the outside even if there is much more harm that goes unnoticed. In this society, consumers are easily influenced by these messages and images even if they are strategically designed by marketers. It creates impacts through emotions, associations with colors and being current with today's day and age. As Baumgartner said, the products consumers buy show who they are and what they stand for with their choices. Works Cited Barry, Keith. “More American Drivers Want Electric Cars, AAA Survey Says.” Consumer Reports, May 8, 2018,.