Transparency and Corporate Washing in the Age of Sustainability

This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the various frameworks associated with financial corporate washing. It examines the factors influencing these practices and explores their connection to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies, through the use of operations research methods. ESG investors thoroughly evaluate a company's environmental, social, and governance factors before investing, reflecting the growing global emphasis on sustainability. As climate change risks rise and sustainability becomes more important, many organizations have begun to adapt, though some resort to greenwashing, misleadingly presenting their practices as eco-friendly despite ongoing harmful activities.  

This book offers a thorough examination of the strategies used by financial institutions, such as greenwashing, bluewashing, social washing, and pinkwashing. It aims to address corporate washing by highlighting its various forms within the financial sector, providing policymakers and stakeholders with insights to develop effective strategies and practices to counteract these deceptive practices.

Konstantina Ragazou is an Associate Professor of Management Science and Technology at the University of Western Macedonia, Greece, specializing in management efficiency, sustainability, and business development. She works in the Hellenic Mediterranean University's Department of Business Administration and Tourism's Operational Research and Administrative Control Laboratory (ORAMA Lab) and the University of Thessaly's Department of Planning and Regional Development's LADS. She has published over fifty scientific publications and conference proceedings.

Constantin Zopounidis is a Professor of Operations Research and Financial Engineering at the Technical University of Crete, Greece, a Senior Academician of the Royal Academy of Economics and Financial Sciences of Spain, and President of the Financial Engineering and Banking Society (FEBS). He has edited and authored more than 125 books and 600 research papers in academic journals and collected volumes, conference proceedings, and encyclopedias in finance, accounting, operations research, and management science. In recognition of his contributions, he has received several awards from international research bodies such as the International Society on Multiple Criteria Decision Making, the Decision Sciences Institute, the MOISIL International Foundation, ESCP Europe, and the Hellenic Operational Research Society.

Dr. Emilios Galariotis is a Research Chair and Full Professor of Finance at KIMEP University's Bang College of Business in Almaty, Kazakhstan and a member of the management board of the IAPR (Independent Authority for Public Revenue) of the Hellenic Republic. He has held editorial positions at various journals, and serves on the board of Directors and as Assistant General Secretary of multiple associations, including the Financial Engineering and Banking Society, Hellenic Association for Energy Economics, and the French Finance Association (Affi). His research focuses on behavioral issues and efficiency, as well as social finance topics. His work has been published in 85 articles in reputable journals and book chapters.

Nikolaos Sariannidis is a Professor at the Department of Accounting and Finance, University of Western Macedonia, Greece, where he is also the Vice-rector for Academic Affairs & Quality Assurance.  His scientific and research work is mainly focused on applications of econometric methods to capital markets and economic development. He has published more than 60 articles in internationally acclaimed scientific journals and conference proceedings. 

Dr. Georgia Zournatzidou holds a Doctorate in Computational Finance, focusing on the stochastic behavior of the volatility function, from Hellenic Mediterranean University, Greece. She served as an executive at the Special Account of Research Funds at the University of Crete and Hellenic Mediterranean University. She has contributed to numerous projects, including H2020, Interreg, RIS3. She is a financial administrator and account manager in stock exchanges and has over 50 publications in high-ranking journals.