 EnviroCitizen.org has become aware that many products that are advertised as "natural" have dangerous ingredients as well. For example, the ingredients of one major company's line of baby care products contains ingredients like tocopherol, propylparaben, phenoxeythanol, potassium aspartate, dimethicone, ethylparaben, disodium lauroamphodiacetate and hydroxypropyldimonium. Some of the ingredients present in this "natural" line of baby products have been linked to cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, allergies, endocrine disruption and biochemical or cellular level changes. Millions of people are loyal customers to this company, and they do a lot of great things. However, EnviroCitizen.org wants you to be aware of what some companies are doing in order to increase sales.
In the modern green revolution, many companies and industries are guilty of green washing. Green washing is the practice of marketing products and services as environmentally friendly in order to increase sales and improve a company's public image. It's a deceptive move in marketing to appeal to the demand for green products by untruthfully labeling products as "green" when they are not.
Another example of green washing that has been brought to EnviroCitizen.org's attention was made apparent when one company labeled their plastic bags as ‘biodegradable' and ‘eco-friendly'. In order for the plastic bag to biodegrade, it had to be left out in a "sun-like setting" where high-watt light bulbs were shined onto the plastic bags for hundreds of hours. If this so-called biodegradable plastic bag was thrown into a landfill, where it would presumably go after consumer use, the bag would not receive enough sunlight to succeed in the biodegrading process. Sadly, we even see green washing with food companies. Some food companies market their foods as natural or being composed of natural ingredients. The problem is, many of the ingredients are genetically engineered. So, although the ingredients are not chemically derived, they are not completely natural and are certainly not organic.
EnviroCitizen.org does not want to point the finger, we simply want you to be aware of this issue as it is being practiced by companies large and small. EnviroCitizen.org knows that one of the best ways to live a green lifestyle is to remain a conscious consumer. Check the ingredients in everything you buy and if you can't recognize it, don't buy it! There are plenty of great companies out there that list ingredients that we all recognize, and perhaps can even find in our gardens and cupboards. Stick to these products. You'll do yourself, your family and the environment a huge favor!
Check out EnviroCitizen.org's fabulous selection of eco-friendly personal care products, all of which are completely natural and cruelty-free!
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