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Cited by 150Corporate Social Responsibility ReportingEnvironmental Sustainability in BusinessSustainable Finance and Green Bonds

Greenwashing prevention in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures: A bibliometric analysis

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Sneideriene, Agne, Legenzova, Renata·2025·Research in International Business and Finance
DOI 10.1016/j.ribaf.2024.102720
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Abstract

The accuracy and reliability of environmental, social, and governance (hereafter ESG) reporting are threatened by the presence of greenwashing which affects the quality of disclosure, complicates the decision-making process, adversely influences financial markets, and affects stakeholders’ trust in disclosed information. This study examines the academic literature on ESG disclosure and greenwashing prevention through a bibliometric analysis and systematic literature review. Our findings show that greenwashing is a complex phenomenon characterised by various forms, shapes, and levels, making it challenging to detect, measure, and develop prevention tools. The results show a growing trend in the academic literature on greenwashing with a strong focus on the establishment of greenwashing detection measures and the need for the creation of greenwashing prevention tools to ensure the reliability, comparability, and quality of corporate sustainability reporting. Understanding the challenges of greenwashing in ESG disclosures and the efforts toward greenwashing prevention carries significant implications for regulators and standard-setters, supervisory bodies, professional organizations, companies, researchers, and other stakeholders, especially in light of recent regulatory developments around the globe and the new forms and levels of greenwashing evolving in scientific research. • Greenwashing prevention in ESG disclosures analysed through a bibliometric analysis. • Performance, network, and systematic literature review analysis methods applied. • Greenwashing measurement is difficult as it has lots of levels, forms, and shades. • Greenwashing measurement methods at various greenwashing levels are systemized. • The creation of a credible greenwashing prevention tool in ESG disclosure is needed.

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  • ESG integration increases the risk of symbolic adoption and greenwashing when sustainability commitments are decoupled from substantive organizational change.

    “In this context, ESG integration improves more comprehensive, consistent, and accurate disclosure of information, which directly enhances corporate transparency, market reputation, and investor confidence, yet it simultaneously increases the risk of symbolic adoption and greenwashing when sustainability commitments are decoupled from substantive organizational change [19,20].”

    From Artificial Intelligence in Managerial Decision-Making for Sustainable Business Models: A Systematic Literature Review (2026) · cites this paper as [20]

  • ESG integration improves more comprehensive, consistent, and accurate disclosure of information, which directly enhances corporate transparency, market reputation, and investor confidence.

    “In this context, ESG integration improves more comprehensive, consistent, and accurate disclosure of information, which directly enhances corporate transparency, market reputation, and investor confidence, yet it simultaneously increases the risk of symbolic adoption and greenwashing when sustainability commitments are decoupled from substantive organizational change [19,20].”

    From Artificial Intelligence in Managerial Decision-Making for Sustainable Business Models: A Systematic Literature Review (2026) · cites this paper as [20]

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Authors
Sneideriene, A., & Legenzova, R.
Affiliations
Vytautas Magnus University (LT)
ORCID
Venue
Research in International Business and Finance
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2025-02
Volume
74
Pages
102720
ISSN
0275-5319 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.ribaf.2024.102720
OpenAlex
W4405662717
Cited by
150
References
180
Citations by year
2026: 102 · 2025: 48
FWCI
50.44
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Research in International Business and Finance (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Vytautas Magnus University (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Environmental Sustainability in Business
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Finance › Sustainable Finance and Green Bonds
Keywords
greenwashing, ESG disclosure, greenwashing prevention, greenwashing detection, corporate sustainability reporting, disclosure reliability, ESG regulation

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