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BP is the world’s third largest global energy company, is among the largest private sector energy corporations in the world, that is one of the six supermajors (vertically integrated private sector oil exploration, natural gas, and petroleum product marketing companies).

Now just look at that logo: The lush variegated greens, the beautiful, regular geometry and the holistic gaia-esque overtones: I feel like I’m looking at the planet earth through the dreaming eyes of James Lovelock. Which are eyes I like: I have to admit the first time I came across a BP in my town, I stopped there for gas. There’s no doubt something about this strategy works.

That said, is it just me, or is something about it a little fishy?

For one thing, only a cursory amount of internet research indicates that BP is leading the expansion of oil exploration on the sensitive Atlantic Frontier. They also apparently spent $171,000 to help oppose a 1991 bill to improve tanker safety and to create a $500M spill response fund. Incidentally, that bill was motivated by a 300,000 gallon spill from a BP-charted oil tanker that severely disrupted the enviroment Huntingdon beach in California.

Telltale smears of black sludge, the remnants of an oil spill, stain California’s Huntington Beach. Via.

So here’s what I’m thinking about this week: What’s up with BP? It’s pretty clear that their design and advertising strategy is a flagrant appeal to a kind of environmentalism they just don’t practice. Meanwhile, they seem to be doing alright. Is this a disturbance in the Brand-Reality Corollary?

Between now and Wednesday, I plan to find out, and meanwhile hopefully gather some research that will prove useful in our continuing quest for a cogent design ethics. Until then.