Since January 1, 2020, Malaysia has recorded 12 of the 17 reported cases of corporate and state greenwashing, compared to three in Singapore and just one in Brunei.
Green isn’t always as clean as it seems. In a newly released database from environmental watchdog RimbaWatch, Malaysia has emerged with the highest number of greenwashing cases in the region—outpacing its neighbors, Singapore and Brunei.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS



Since January 1, 2020, Malaysia has recorded 12 of the 17 reported cases of corporate and state greenwashing, compared to three in Singapore and just one in Brunei. The findings, part of the Zero Greenwashing Alliance Guidelines and Database, provide a sobering look at misleading sustainability claims by corporations and state agencies across Southeast Asia.
Greenwashing : Deceptive Environmental Claims
“Greenwashing” refers to deceptive marketing tactics that falsely present a product, company, or initiative as environmentally friendly. These claims, often unverified or exaggerated, mislead consumers and stakeholders into believing they are making sustainable choices when, in reality, they may be supporting businesses with little to no genuine commitment to reducing their environmental footprint.
RimbaWatch director Adam Farhan revealed that fossil fuel-related claims made up the bulk of the cases, with 11 out of the 17 offenses linked to the industry. Other offenders included banks and financial institutions (two cases), transportation companies including airlines (three cases), and a single case involving a state agency.
Among the violations were corporations falsely promoting “carbon neutrality,” companies setting inadequate “net-zero” targets, and misleading claims that certain products had “zero environmental impact.” These findings underscore a troubling trend—while sustainability is a growing concern, so is the tendency of companies to exploit the green movement for profit.
Greenwashing : Deceptive Environmental Claims
Despite Malaysia’s unenviable ranking, RimbaWatch stressed that the numbers do not present a comprehensive picture of greenwashing in the region. As more cases are added to the database in the coming months, the rankings may shift.
“We see this as an opportunity to promote transparency and accountability through displaying such cases on a single platform,” said Adam. The watchdog is now analyzing environmental claims made in the property development sector, a space often fraught with vague sustainability promises, and plans to incorporate its findings into the database.
The launch of this initiative is a significant step in combating greenwashing. Prior to this, information on misleading sustainability claims was scattered across news reports and NGO statements, making it difficult to track repeat offenders or identify patterns. Now, with standardized criteria benchmarked against international standards, RimbaWatch aims to provide clearer visibility into corporate environmental misrepresentation.
What Comes Next?
With its database now in place, RimbaWatch hopes that the exposure of greenwashing cases will lead to concrete action, including stricter oversight from national advertising regulators. Adam urged consumers, advocacy groups, and regulatory bodies such as the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to hold businesses accountable.
While corporate sustainability initiatives can play a vital role in addressing climate change, unchecked greenwashing risks undermining genuine efforts and misleading consumers into complacency. The challenge now lies in ensuring that companies do not just talk the talk—but actually walk the walk.
For consumers, the message is clear: not all “green” labels are what they seem. In an era where sustainability sells, vigilance is key.
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