Greenwashing

 

Green world ballConsumers want to behave in ways that do not harm the environment, but a lack of reliable standards leaves plenty of room for deception and pretense. “Greenwashing” is the practice of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service. One good way to guard against Greenwashing is to look for widely accepted environmental standards and certifications.

  • The Chlorine Free Products Association (CFPA) certifies paper & tissue products.
  • The Green Seal certifies many product types and services.
  • The Forest Stewardship Council certifies wood products obtained from sustainably harvested forests.
  • Green-e certifies sources of renewable electricity and products generated from clean energy sources
  • Green Guard certifies products based on indoor air quality issues.
  • The Energy Star Program lists products meeting the Federal government’s efficiency requirements.
  • EPEAT ranks computer desktops, laptops, and monitors into EPEAT Bronze, Silver, or Gold categories based on more than 50 environmental criteria.
  • The Consumers Union has put together a tool that can be used to learn about eco-labels on food.

Products on the shelfAs a consumer, we must always be skeptical of environmental claims made by manufacturers.  Canned green beans were recently advertised as “low fat” food.  Duh.  The manufacturer neglected to mention that ½ a cup also has 360 mg of sodium.  A recent study of 1,018 "green" products found that all but one were marketed with false or misleading eco-claims. Researchers from TerraChoice Environmental Marketing describe the "Six Sins of Greenwashing” you should watch for:

  1. Sin of the Hidden Trade-Off – e.g. toxic loaded electronics touting their energy efficiency
  2. Sin of No Proof – no certifiable verification of green claims
  3. Sin of Vagueness – e.g. products claiming “all natural,” which could include hazardous substances that occur naturally
  4. Sin of Irrelevance – e.g., products claiming to be CFC-free even though CFCs have long been banned
  5. Sin of Fibbing – making false claims about certification
  6. Sin of the Lesser of Two Evils – e.g. organic cigarettes

By doing a little research, we can avoid being duped by manufacturers exaggerated or false claims and really protect the environment.