Blue Washing

Blue Washing Latest News

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has recently introduced a new category of industries called the ‘Blue Category’, which falls under Essential Environmental Services (EES).

What is Blue Washing?

• ‘Blue Washing’ refers to the practice of portraying polluting industries as environmentally friendly by categorising them under less polluting or cleaner industry labels.
• This term is now used to describe the reclassification of highly polluting Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration industries by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) into the new 'Blue Category'.

Blue Category

• The ‘Blue Category’ is introduced as part of a subset of EES activities like composting, biogas plants, sewage treatment, and material recovery facilities.
• Waste-to-Energy (WTE) incineration, previously under the ‘Red Category’ with a PI of 97.6, is now reclassified as a ‘Blue Category’ industry.

What is WTE Incineration?

• WTE incineration burns mixed municipal solid waste (MSW) to produce heat and electricity.
• It generates energy through turbine-driven steam, similar to coal plants, but emits more CO₂

About Pollution Index (PI)

• The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) introduced a Pollution Index (PI) to categorise industries based on pollution levels.
• PI is calculated on the basis of emissions (air pollutants), effluents (water pollutants), hazardous waste, and resource consumption.
• PIranges from 0 to 100, with industries classified as:
  • White Category (0–20): Least polluting
  • Green Category (21–40)
  • Orange Category (41–59)
  • Red Category (60–100): Most polluting

Blue Washing FAQs

Q1. What is blue washing?
Ans. A deceptive practice where companies overstate their commitment to ocean conservation or ethical water use for brand image.

Q2. How does it differ from greenwashing?
Ans. Focuses specifically on water-related sustainability claims, often linked to SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

Q3. Give an example of blue washing.
Ans. A 2022 case where a beverage firm advertised “plastic-neutral” products while remaining a top ocean plastic polluter.

Source: DTE