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Tactic: Green-washing

Tactic sort: Dark Tactic

Type: Unsustainable Pattern

Category: edge-computing

Tags:

Title

Green-washing

Description

Edge-enabled applications with a positive impact on sustainability are sometimes mentioned, for example in the area of environmental monitoring or renewable energy management. Added to the common promises of the edge paradigm (more energy-efficient, more decentralized), there is a potential for greenwashing from ICT companies or lobbies, i.e., “the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service” [14 ]. An example is the report published by the cooperation of ICT firms Global e-Sustainability Initiative predicting a saving of 20% of the world’s CO2 emissions thanks to ICT technologies from 2015 to 2030. This report has been relayed by many companies and in numerous press articles to highlight the reduction potential even though its methodology has been highly criticized.

Participant

edge-provider, edge-user, innovation-driver

Related artifact

Technology

Context

Innovation

Feature

Motivation behind the development of the technology

Tactic intent

Using a small fraction of “green” applications as an excuse to develop the technology which will mainly be used for other purposes

Intent measure

Share of the applications being directly aimed at sustainability

Countermeasure

Raise awareness about greenwashing, increase regulation or improve transparency of environmental reporting.

Source

*The Dark Side of Cloud and Edge Computing* by Klervie Toczé, Maël Madon, Muriel Garcia and Patricia Lago (DOI: https://doi.org/10.21428/bf6fb269.9422c084)