Have You Been "Greenwashed"?
 

Increasingly we are being inundated with messages to be eco-friendly and planet aware. However, some companies are making claims that are not exactly representative of the products they are promoting. By meeting only the minimum standards for labeling themselves as "green" or "eco-friendly" some companies are promoting their products as suitable earth-friendly alternatives, when in fact they may not be. This is called "green washing".

Here are a few tips and tricks for you to use to make sure the products you are using are living up to their claims.

Know the terminology

A product labeled as "organic" only has to be 95% organic to use that label. A product that is 100% organic will say "100% organic". "CFC-free" is an often seen catch phrase related to ozone depletion, even though CFC's (Chlorofluorocarbons) were banned over 20 years ago.

Look for certification logos

Stiff penalties for misusing green certification labels go a long way toward making sure that companies can live up to the claims on their cleaning product.


  
The EcoLogo certification from Canada is the oldest environmental standard and certification program in North America, in effect since 1988. Their website lists over 7000 products that carry their certification emblem. Only products that have met the criteria are allowed to display the EcoLogo.

The Green Seal® label in the United States requires companies to submit their products for evaluation before being allowed to display the seal or have a listing on their site.


  

Natural doesn't always mean green

Arsenic and formaldehyde are two naturally occurring substances that you wouldn't want in your home or your cleaning products. Be aware that "all natural" products are not necessarily good for you and you must read the labels carefully to see what is actually in the product. Several "natural" ingredients are toxic.

Use the power of the internet

Several sites maintain lists of the products which they certify: www.greenseal.org and www.ecologo.org and several websites have lists of products that make claims that are not 100% accurate. Google the term green-washing for instance and you will find all sorts of sites ready to point the finger at offenders.

Buyer beware should be second nature by now for consumers. But with the explosion of awareness surrounding eco-issues, you must be extra careful to check into the claims being made on your products to ensure the manufacturers are indeed living up to their hype.