The DOI matches its Crossref record; 181 of the 181 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Greenwashing prevention in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) disclosures: A bibliometric analysis
Open accessAbstract
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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In the citing paper
“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]
In the citing paper
“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]
Citations
Cites
Rayyan-a web and mobile app for systematic reviews.
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bibliometrix: An R-tool for comprehensive science mapping analysis
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The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews
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Scrutiny, Norms, and Selective Disclosure: A Global Study of Greenwashing
Marquis, C., Toffel, M. W., & Zhou, Y. (2016) · Organization Science · doi:10.1287/orsc.2015.1039 · Cited by 1,680
The Means and End of Greenwash
Lyon, T. P., & Montgomery, A. W. (2015) · Organization & Environment · doi:10.1177/1086026615575332 · Cited by 1,636
Greenwashing in environmental, social and governance disclosures
Yu, E. P., Luu, B. V., & Chen, C. H. (2020) · Research in International Business and Finance · doi:10.1016/j.ribaf.2020.101192 · Cited by 1,230
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A comparison of two techniques for bibliometric mapping: Multidimensional scaling and VOS
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Greenwash vs. Brownwash: Exaggeration and Undue Modesty in Corporate Sustainability Disclosure
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Research works printed but not linked: 5
- Amin, 2022, Corporate social responsibility disclosure on Twitter: signalling or greenwashing? Evidence from the UK, Int. J. Financ. Econ., 1
- Blandini, 2022, Greenwashing-related risks: analysis and future perspectives to tackle environmentalism as as form of virtue-signaling, Law Econ. Yrly. Rev., 11, 229
- Contreras-Pacheco, 2020, Transgressing CSR on the organizational value chain, How Nat. Resour. Co. Greenwash Their Process. UIS Ing., 19, 215
- Lukas, 2024, Shiw me the green: the battle for investor trust in ESG funds, Duke Law J., 73, 1339
- de Oliveira Silva Ramalho, 2024, Bibliometric study of scientific production on greenwashing, Rev. Gest. Soc. Ambient., 18
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Battisti, E., Bo, S., Petruzzella, F., & Salvi, A. (2025) · Business Strategy and the Environment · doi:10.1002/bse.70000 · Cited by 35
Janik, A., & Ryszko, A. (2025) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su18010017 · Cited by 28
Can artificial intelligence curb greenwashing? Firm-level evidence based on large language model
He, L., & Wang, L. (2025) · Energy Economics · doi:10.1016/j.eneco.2025.108954 · Cited by 31
Wu, Z., Long, S., & Wang, Y. (2025) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.126395 · Cited by 21
Clarifying CSR and ESG: Causes of conflation, consequences, and pathways to conceptual clarity
Seow, R. Y. C. (2025) · Journal of Environmental Management · doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127468 · Cited by 21
Metadata
- Authors
- Sneideriene, A., & Legenzova, R.
- Affiliations
- Vytautas Magnus University (LT)
- Venue
- Research in International Business and Finance
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2025-02
- Volume
- 74
- Pages
- 102720
- ISSN
- 0275-5319 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4405662717
- Cited by
- 150
- References
- 180
- Citations by year
- 2026: 102 · 2025: 48
- FWCI
- 50.44
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- 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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