Investigating false sustainability claims in shared mobility.
Are shared mobility services truly sustainable? How does greenwashing impact our travel behavior? How can we rebuilt trust in eco-friendly transport?
About the Project
The transport sector is responsible for roughly 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions. While shared mobility systems like ride-hailing and carpooling are often promoted as sustainable solutions, these claims frequently lack substantiation. This phenomenon, known as greenwashing, involves advertising false or exaggerated environmental benefits that distort consumer behavior and undermine trust in genuinely sustainable solutions.
This project investigates greenwashing within the transport sector to identify its dimensions, impacts, and mitigation strategies. The methodology involves four stages: first, consolidating existing literature and conducting a workshop to gauge current public awareness. Next, a survey of 1,500 respondents will collect data on how false information influences daily travel behavior. The third stage involves analyzing this data to assess awareness across different demographics and quantify the impact of misinformation on urban sustainability. Finally, the project will propose a framework to mitigate greenwashing, gathering feedback through a second workshop, and ultimately publishing the findings to help eradicate these deceptive practices.
About the Fellow
Mohamed Abouelela is a postdoctoral researcher at the TUM Chair of Transportation Systems Engineering. He researches travel behavior in transport, focusing on sustainability, equity, public awareness, and how false sustainability claims in shared mobility impact consumer travel behavior.
