Companies fake their 'green' credentials

It is hard to find a big American company that does not have some sort of "green" initiative. General Electric (GE) even has an entire program based on corporate-wide environmental efforts called Ecomagination. But companies are formed to make profits -- which means that being "green" may only go so far as changing business patterns in a way that makes the companies money. Environmental efforts that cost a great deal of money are rare.

Now Reutersweighs in, reporting that the lack of commitment to significant efforts to improve the environment are widespread. The news service writes "This has led to accusations of a 'greenwash,' with environmentalists claiming firms are using big public relations campaigns to mask a lack of commitment to change.