Beware Green Washing

As energy prices are rising and families are paying more attention to the environment, many companies are looking to capitalize on this new market of consumer interest. Many businesses claim to be “green,” or claim that their products are the simple fix to a complicated issue. There are simple ways to lower your energy bills, and there are great products out there that can help. However buyers beware—some products are not as effective as they claim.

Consumer fears are rising over “green washing.” It is a marketing term that claims that many companies are selling their products as eco-friendly when in fact it does not provide the types of environmental benefits they claim. Furthermore, environmentalists interested in the economic development of “green” products fear that cluttering the message hurts the products that are effective environmental solutions.

However, this rational consumer apprehension has forced companies to be more transparent and descriptive with their efforts to be “green.” Any savvy company has seen the trend in recent years that has proven a direct market advantage of a green company as compared to its non green counterpart. The pressure for businesses to close the “green gap” has led to “green washing.”

Many people who are looking for the way around this issue are looking for advice.

Via Unsuitablog:

• Be suspicious of all environmental claims. Don’t trust any claims unless you have verified them yourself.

• If a company, in particular, takes out a large advertisement in a newspaper, or runs a TV advertisement saying how great their green credentials are — then they are hiding something, guaranteed. If someone is trying sell their “green” credentials then ask yourself, “why?”

• If a company has a bad history it is highly unlikely to have changed overnight. Use web sites like SourceWatch and Corporate Watch, as well as this site, to find out the truth behind the mask.

• Look out for poor use of scientific facts, especially when listening to politicians: “Reducing carbon emissions will protect the ozone layer”, “this technology is sustainable”, “emissions can be offset”, “the greenhouse effect is not certain” etc. All examples of rubbish that has no basis in fact, even the last one (think about it).

• Look out for buzzwords that put a gloss on reality: ”carbon intensity”, “sustainable development”, “carbon offsets”, “clean technology” etc. Another clear sign that something is being covered up.

• Use your common sense and your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right then it probably isn’t.