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Green, pure, natural, clean. What do these words mean to you? To a lot of companies, these words translate to profit. According to Wikipedia, greenwashing is “a form of marketing spin in which green PR (green values) and green marketing are deceptively used to persuade the public that an organization’s products, aims, and policies are environmentally friendly and therefore better”. In other words, it is a way to prey on your emotions and desire to do good, in order to make money.
If you have been duped by green claims before, don’t feel bad about it, we all have. I once bought baby wipes by the case because they had pretty plastic packaging with a picture of a baby surrounded by green leaves and grass and the words pure and natural. No matter how much I wanted those wipes to be good for the environment, they actually weren’t biodegradable or packaged in sustainable materials. These wipes were just as bad as the others, but I was willing to fork over some extra money because I thought I was doing the right thing for my baby and the world without actually verifying the claims.
What can we do about this? We can combat greenwashing by being informed consumers.
Today’s Challenge: Beware of greenwashing. Take a closer look at products that are labeled as “green” or state that they are “100% recyclable”. Is the item truly free of non-toxic ingredients? Are the ingredients even disclosed? What is the type of packaging? What number plastic is it and can it truly be recycled? Is it really biodegradable or compostable? Try to pause before you make a purchase and ask yourself these questions first. The answers may require a bit of research. You can also look for third party certifications such as Certified B Corporation, USDA organic, Rainforest Alliance, Fair Trade Certification, Forest Stewardship Council, EPA Water Sense, Biodegradable Products Institute Compostable Certification, SCS Global Services Biodegradable Certification, and more. Knowing the truth about a product can help you make informed decisions about what you buy. Make an effort to support truly good companies that are trying to fill a need while at the same time caring for the environment.
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