As a sustainability professional, you might have tried to tap into ChatGPT to see what support you can get for different sustainability topics, and come up disappointed. For example, ask the AI to write sustainability content and you’ll most likely get a post that has one too many green emojis and eco-friendly hashtags. Quite simply, ChatGPT is a greenwashing master.
It’s not really surprising that it’s terrible. After all, the internet is full of greenwashing claims and bad expert advice. Plus, the more vague and less guided the prompt, the more rogue the response will be. Being specific, stating what not to do, applying a tone and audience are all things you can do to improve the content generated.
Below are four posts with different iterations of the same prompt. What’s interesting, is its interpretation of greenwashing. The prompts were purposely left to be on the vague side as an experiment. Also note the emoji variance from the “more” greenwashing post (🌿) to the “less” greenwashing post (🌱).
Hello, I have a product that is using a more sustainable type of material. The material is from a biobased source. Can you write a short social media post about the product?
🌿 Exciting News for Eco-Friendly Living! 🌿
We’re thrilled to introduce our latest innovation that’s as kind to the planet as it is to you. Our newest product is crafted from a groundbreaking biobased material, promising a sustainable future without compromising on quality.
Why biobased? Because it’s all about making choices that support our planet. This remarkable material is derived from renewable resources, significantly reducing our carbon footprint and promoting a greener lifestyle.
✨ Be a part of the change. Choose sustainable. Choose [Product Name]. ✨
The prompt provided uses two keywords, “sustainable” and “biobased”. ChatGPT managed to squeeze in those two components without a lot of context which is a perfect recipe for terrible communication around sustainability.
Thank you, can you please reduce the amount of greenwashing?
🌱 Meet Our New Product! 🌱
We’re excited to share something special with you. Our latest creation uses a biobased material, stepping towards more sustainable practices. This material comes from renewable sources, helping us reduce our environmental impact.
Our commitment? Transparency and progress. While we’re on a journey to sustainability, this is one of the steps we’re taking to make a difference. It’s not perfect, but it’s a step forward.
Join us as we learn, improve, and grow towards a more sustainable future together.
Just by prompting it not to greenwash, it already changes the tone. It’s better but it still managed to sneak in a #EcoFriendly.
I have more information about the product now, so based on the above can you write a product announcement that includes: product is made from biobased PE from sugarcane, can be recycled as plastic, and has a lower carbon footprint compared to fossil-based PE?
We’re proud to unveil a game-changer in sustainable living: our newest product crafted from biobased polyethylene (PE) derived from sugarcane. This isn’t just another eco-friendly claim—it’s a tangible step towards reducing our environmental impact, and here’s why:
🌱 Sustainable Source: Our product is made using PE from sugarcane, a renewable resource that absorbs CO2 as it grows, contributing to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
♻️ Fully Recyclable: Just like traditional plastic, this biobased PE can be recycled in the same way, ensuring that our product remains eco-friendly from creation to disposal.
🌍 Lower Carbon Footprint: Compared to fossil-based PE, our sugarcane-based material significantly reduces the carbon footprint, making it a cleaner, greener choice.
We believe in progress, not perfection. While we’re excited about the positive steps this product represents, we know there’s always more to do. This is part of our commitment to a sustainable future, providing you with products that are not only good for you but also good for the planet.
Join us on our journey towards sustainability. Together, we can make a difference.
More specifics were added and because it was prompted to iterate on the previous posts, it tried to incorporate its interpretation of no greenwashing by adding the text “progress not perfection”. Still a big miss.
There’s still too much greenwashing, can you rewrite the post?
🌱 New Product Alert! 🌱
We’re excited to introduce a product that marks a small but significant step in our journey towards sustainability. Made from biobased polyethylene (PE) derived from sugarcane, this product offers an alternative to traditional fossil-based plastics.
Key facts about our product:
We understand that this is just one step towards a more sustainable future. We’re committed to transparency and continuous improvement in our environmental journey.
Biobased Material: It’s made using PE derived from sugarcane, a renewable resource that helps in reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Recyclable: This product can be recycled alongside other plastics, contributing to the circular economy.
Lower Carbon Footprint: By using sugarcane as a raw material, we’re able to lower the carbon footprint compared to products made from fossil-based PE, thanks to the carbon absorption during the sugarcane’s growth phase.
#Sustainability #Biobased #Recyclable #EcoChoice
Better, and something that’s more usable with editing. Biogenic carbon is a bit complicated, so I would probably leave the comment about carbon absorption off.
In conclusion, while ChatGPT has the potential to aid sustainability professionals, its effectiveness heavily relies on the specificity and guidance provided in the prompts. The experiment highlighted that vague instructions often lead to outputs full of greenwashing, a reflection of an internet filled with misleading claims. By crafting detailed, clear prompts and setting explicit content boundaries, users may improve the relevance and accuracy of their AI-assisted sustainability content.
Lyndsey is a seasoned sustainability professional, with over seven years of experience in the field. Lyndsey has dedicated her career to advancing sustainable practices within organizations, and her expertise spans a wide range of sustainability initiatives. Through her work, she strives to inspire change, foster innovation, and create a more sustainable future for all.
