Many companies like to present themselves as sustainable. They make grand claims and set ambitious goals regarding climate, biodiversity or human rights. However, there is often a wide discrepancy between their green promises and their actual practices.
From vague eco‑labels to misleading carbon claims; there are a lot of tactics companies apply to appear ‘green’. Gerard Mertens sets out to uncover the truth: what is the real story behind these sustainability ambitions? And what power do we have as consumers?
Prof. dr. Gerard Mertens is a professor of Financial Management and the director of Applied research at the Open University. He is a critical expert in fields like corporate reporting and governance, including Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting (in particular anti- Greenwashing). He is also the scientific director of the research center at Brightlands Smart Services Campus, which is developing AI tools to help detect, predict, and prevent acts of greenwashing.
TU/e Green Week
This program is part of the Green Week 2026 (18-22 May) and is jointly organized by TU/e’s GO Green Office and Studium Generale.
Ticket reservation recommended
To be assured of a seat, we recommend reserving a ticket (black "order" button).
SG & USE/ITEC registration
Please register for SG & USE/ITEC by scanning your student ID at the venue prior to the start of the program.
More information about SG & USE/ITEC can be found here.