 In the midst of a green revolution, many companies and industries are guilty of "green washing". "Green washing" is the practice of marketing products or policies to be environmentally friendly to increase sales. This is often a way in which companies take advantage of the increasing demand for green products and better their public images.
Certain companies are claiming that products or packaging is biodegradable, however, it is only so if put under conditions that they would not naturally be exposed to. For example, one company labeled their plastic bags as "biodegradable" and "eco-friendly". However, in order for the plastic bag to biodegrade, it was 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 eventually, the bag would not receive enough sunlight to deteriorate.
EnviroCitizen.org has noticed that certain food manufacturers are marketing certain foods as containing "natural ingredients". However, the corn used in some of these foods is genetically engineered in a lab. So, even though the ingredient itself can be found in nature, the corn in the cereal was not natural.
EnviroCitizen.org feels it is important that we remain conscious as consumers and understand what we are buying. Rather than taking the eco-friendly and green labels at face value, take a more discerning look at the labels on the product that you’re about to buy. Check to see how much of the packaging comes from recycled content. There are two important distinctions when it comes to recycled packaging. Look first to see how much of the packaging is made from recycled materials. Then, look to see how much of the packaging is made from post-consumer recycled content. If it’s made with post-consumer recycled content, that means that the material has already been used by consumers and was then recycled into new packaging.
Rather than relying on labels with eco-friendly or green claims, look for certifications. If something is certified organic, you are guaranteed that there will be no genetically modified ingredients present in the product. Look for fair-trade and cruelty-free certifications, too.
When buying a product, make sure that all ingredients listed really are organic and/or natural especially when it comes to personal care products. There are many nasty ingredients that go into personal care products that can damage both your health and the environment. Seek out organic, biodegradable products.
EnviroCitizen.org suggests that you look past eco-friendly, green or natural marketing and dig deeper to discover what really lays within the products you buy!
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