Roxana’s PhD research explores how transnational food corporations deploy “green” or environmental claims in their sustainability narratives to legitimise their environmental credentials, simultaneously examining the effectiveness of current regulatory frameworks in reducing greenwashing in foods, as well as their overarching contribution to food equity, climate change, and the governance of planetary health.

Climate disinformation is a major barrier to addressing the environmental crisis, with greenwashing enabling harmful industries to maintain business-as-usual practices under the veil of sustainability. In food systems, greenwashing is increasingly prevalent in ultra-processed foods (UPFs), reinforcing misleading narratives that shape consumer perceptions while hampering the market for genuinely sustainable foods. These deceptive practices have significant consequences for planetary health equity (the pursuit of good health for all in a stable Earth system), by delaying structural changes in food production, distribution, marketing, and consumption. 

This seminar is Roxana's mid-term doctoral candidature presentation.

About the speaker

Roxana Tompea Hafner is a PhD scholar and ARC Laureate at the Planetary Health Equity Hothouse. Through her research, she investigates regulatory frameworks to combat greenwashing in the food sector, with a focus on ultra-processed foods. She is particularly interested in how misleading marketing practices (such as leanwashing, healthwashing, and greenwashing) impact perceptions related to the health and environmental benefits of foods, as well as the regulatory regimes enabling them. Previously, she worked in communication and knowledge management in international organizations, working on sustainability projects supporting various industries, including the food sector.

COVID protocols

The ANU strongly encourages you to keep a mask with you at all times (for use when COVID-19 safe behaviours are not practicable) and to be respectful of colleagues, students and visitors who may wish to continue to wear one. Please continue to practice good hygiene. If you are unwell, please stay home. The ACT government’s COVID Smart behaviours can be accessed here.

This seminar presentation is a dual-delivery event. Registration is only required for Zoom attendance; registration for in-person attendance is not required as neither the ANU nor ACT Health conduct contact tracing any longer.

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan please email regnet.communications@anu.edu.au.

Image credit: Graphic illustrating greenwashing of products by HollyHarry from Adobe Stock used under Education License.