Keep America Beautiful controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2023
Crying Indian advertisement cultural-appropriation controversy
The organization’s famous advertisement has been criticized because Iron Eyes Cody presented himself as Native American although he was of Italian descent. Critics have described the portrayal as cultural appropriation and racial stereotyping. In February 2023, Keep America Beautiful transferred the advertisement’s copyright to the National Congress of American Indians for historical-use management.
Greenwashing and producer-responsibility criticism
Environmental writers and advocates have accused Keep America Beautiful of functioning as a corporate greenwashing vehicle. The criticism focuses on its emphasis on consumer littering and volunteer cleanup, which opponents argue can divert attention from packaging manufacturers, disposable-product systems, producer responsibility, and deposit legislation.
Tobacco-industry relationship criticism
The organization and similar groups have been criticized for tobacco-industry funding and programs emphasizing cigarette-litter cleanup and ashtrays rather than smoking restrictions in public parks and beaches.