"There's a lot of 'greenwashing' going on," Dykstra said. "It is frequently pursued most energetically by the companies with the worst records. The dolphin problems have been known for a quarter century. That canners timed their policy change now is certainly not coincidence."

Some industries accused by the environmental movement of the most serious pollution history, such as lumber-product companies, have incensed Earth Day celebrants by claiming to be their allies.

The American Forest Council, for example, a group of timber and paper companies, has taken out large magazine ads that say "For Us, Every Day is Earth Day."

"That goes beyond greenwashing," Dykstra said. "It's eco-pornography. It exploits environmental concern, just as pornography is commonly considered offensive and exploitative."
—Rick Gladstone, "Getcha Clean Gasoline, Recyclable Ketchup Bottles and Dolphin-Free Tuna!," The Associated Press, April 13, 1990