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Many consumers today are demanding products that are better for their health and the environment. Since consumer demand translates into potential green dollars, some companies see this demand as an opportunity to market their products in a way that makes them appear to be more environmentally friendly than they actually are. This “stretching” of the truth is what is referred to as greenwashing. The definition of greenwashing according to Merriam-Webster is “expressions of environmentalist concerns especially as a cover for products, policies, or activities.” If, for example, you’re looking for safe cleaning products for your home, you could make your own homemade cleaning products so that you’d know exactly what ingredients are in your cleaning products. Like most of us, you may not have the time or patience to make your own, so you would probably want to find companies that make safe, non-toxic cleaning products. You would also probably prefer to buy from companies that are actually concerned about the environment, not companies that just appear to be. How do you tell the difference? Below are some tips to help you avoid being fooled by greenwashing. Label check Check the labels to see if the product contains irrelevant environmental claims such as “CFC-free”? Since CFCs are banned by law, you wouldn’t expect to see any products containing CFCs. All products being sold should be “CFC-free”. The claim may be truthful, but what’s actually motivating the company to put this claim on the label? Is it trying to present itself in a better light? Are the descriptive words used on the label clear and verifiable or are they vague and general? Watch for words like “natural” or “environmentally friendly”. Is the meaning of those words defined by the company? Finally, check the labels for the words “caution”, “warning” or “danger” which should raise a red flag on the safety of the ingredients in the product. Check the packaging Is the product over packaged in plastic or packaged with minimal, recycled material? Research Check some of the blogs, forums or product review sites that deal with the products you’re interested in. Lots of useful information is available on these sites. A good feel for the company can be had from browsing through the websites of the companies whose products you’re considering buying. Are they open and transparent in listing all the ingredients they use in their products? Do they explain why they use the ingredients they use? Do they back up any of their claims with facts? Do they define what they mean by terms they use in their advertising, such as “natural”, “biodegradable” and “earth-friendly”? Is there any information on their site that discusses their supply chain or how they produce their products? Do they consider their negative impact on the environment and are there steps in place to minimize this? How do they test their products? Check for certifications Check to see if the products are being independently tested and certified to meet industry standards by reliable third parties. Look for trusted green labels such as EcoLogo, Green Seal, and GREENGUARD. Don’t be fooled by fake labels or advertising that leaves the impression that a product has the third-party endorsement where no such endorsement exists. However, especially if the company is a small business, a lack of certification doesn’t mean the products can't meet green standards. Certification can be costly and the company may not have the money or resources to go through the certification requirements. Check on donations A popular marketing technique is for companies to donate to an environmental cause when you buy their products. That’s great if the company’s products aren’t damaging the environment or consumers in the meantime. Question and challenge If a company makes a claim you don’t understand or you think may not be truthful, question it. Use this as an opportunity to make your views and expectations known. You may even convince the company to make decisions that are more beneficial to you and the environment. It’s extremely unlikely that you’ll find any company that is 100% environmentally friendly (whatever that means to you), but it’s important to be heading in the right direction. It’s going to take us all some time to make the changes necessary to get us back to being more in harmony with the planet.
Article Source: http://www.bharatbhasha.net Article Url: http://www.bharatbhasha.net/environment.php/342373 Article Added on Thursday, February 16, 2012 LD | ||||||||
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