A Systematic review of corporate greenwashing consequences using a meta-synthesis approach

Despite the focus of modernbusinesses on responding toexisting concernsabout environmental issues and dealingwith solving its challenges based on green measures and the validity of claiming environmentalbenefits in the products of somecompanies, companies involved in the greenwashing process that mislead consumers and present positive reports despite theirpoor environmentalperformance. Therefore, the aim of this research wasto present a comprehensivemodel of the greenwashing consequences.

Along with the purpose of the research using the meta-synthesis method and through the seven steps of Sandelowski and Barroso, the results of previous researchers have been systematically reviewed and the weight of the extracted factors has been determined by Shannon-entropy method.

60 outcomes identified by analyzing the data of 47 selected studies have been classified into 14 concepts and 6 main categories.

According to the results of Shannon-entropy, the most important outcomes affected by greenwashing are: perceived risk, loyalty, trust and green purchase intention aboat the consumer outcomes; employees' value orientation, product quality, green brand legitimacy and green brand image aboat the consequences ofthe company's greenwashing; changing internal andexternal attitudes about the environmental sustainability oftheindustry; change inattitude and purchase intention towardsother green brands and products aboat the consequences relatedto other greenproducts;stakeholders perceptionsabout corporateenvironmental responsibility and theirresponse to corporateenvironmental scandals aboat the stakeholderoutcomes and ecosystem degradation and the overuse of non-renewable resources under the environmental impactsubset of corporate greenwashing. Bypresenting a consequences modelof greenwashing, this study has created a deep insight from the existing literaturethat managersof relevant organizationscan use untilprevent the greenwashing consequencesaffecting different groups.