Don’t let greenwashing fool you. Look for these key certifications, labels and identifiers to make sure you’re choosing items that are truly green…
sustainability
Sustainable, environmentally-conscious products are easier to find than ever before. As shoppers demand greener alternatives and seek out brands that offer reusable, plant-based or simply eco-friendly options, increasingly more companies are unveiling new ‘green’ products. But there’s a bit of a catch - not every product that claims to be eco-friendly actually lives up to its claims.
Labelling products as sustainable or ‘green’ without any concrete evidence of environmental responsibility (or unsupportable claims) is a phenomenon called greenwashing. Essentially, it’s the practice of calling products eco-friendly without putting in the legitimate work to make them sustainable, responsibly-produced or sourced, or made with any real serving to the environment. And because greenwashing has become so common, it’s getting harder to tell which items are genuinely eco-friendly and which aren’t.
So, how can you avoid falling for greenwashing? How can you know which products are really environmentally responsible picks? Often, it’s not as easy as simply looking at the labelling or packaging. Here are the key hallmarks you should look for when shopping for sustainable products…
Hands down, third-party certifications are the best way to understand just how environmentally-friendly any given product is. There are a number of organisations that exist to vet sustainable, eco-friendly products in every category, from assessing products’ environmental impact to composition and materials content to manufacturing, sourcing and production processes. And if you can find products that have earned a third-party certification then you can trust that what you’re buying has met key criteria.
Some of the key eco-minded third-party certifications include Green Seal (products carrying Green Seal certification meet the highest standard for health and eco leadership); B Corp certification, which examines companies’ impact on the environment, workers, communities and customers; and Energy Star which is used for appliances, electronics and home goods that utilise electricity. Other important third-party certifications include Environmental Working Group (EWG) Verified label. It is given to skincare, personal care, hair care and cleaning products that meet key chemical safety standards. Verified products are free from the EWG’s ‘chemicals of concern’ and meet strict standards for health. And last but not least is Non-GMO Project Verified which is given to food, beverages and personal care products. Of course, there are many more labels, verifications, certifications and standards that products and companies can tout on their products and websites. If a product features any certifications on its label, you should be able to confirm its vetting with a third party by visiting the certifying organisation’s website.
Once you’ve looked for any appropriate third-party certifications or labels, you’ll also want to think about how much of an environmental impact a product has - or will have.
For example, when you think about a plastic single-use water bottle, you’ve got a product that has a massive impact on the environment. Not only does the manufacturing of that water bottle require oil and produce carbon dioxide, but it also likely won’t wind up in a recycling bin or get repurposed. It very likely could become a detriment to the environment, landing in the ocean or a landfill where it doesn’t break down.
You should think about sustainable products in a similar manner. While it’s great that a ‘green’ product is made with renewable resources, like plant-based ingredients, it’s even better to choose an item that’s manufactured, packaged and able to be disposed in an environmentally-friendly way. As you shop for sustainable products, keep these details in mind:
Ingredients and materials: The best options are those made from recycled, compostable and clean (no toxic or potentially harmful chemicals) ingredients.
Longevity: Products that can be reused or are made to last a long time have a lower environmental impact (and bonus points if it can be composted or recycled once it’s no longer useful).
Packaging: Recyclable or compostable packaging is a must, but it’s also a good idea to look for items with minimal packaging overall.
Misleading words: Eco-friendly, green, all-natural, earth-friendly, plant derived, organic, non-toxic – these words are popular, but they’re meaningless. Unless there’s a certification, label or ingredients list to back them up, they’re just buzzwords.
Green-coloured or leafy images on packaging: Plenty of products try to imply they’re better for the environment with green packaging, images of leaves and plants or even ‘clean’, ‘better for you’ indicators. However, literal green packaging doesn’t mean anything if the products don’t meet any third-party standards.
Counterintuitive claims: Does the product’s packaging or marketing match its uses and purposes? For example, single-use plastic bags are terrible for the environment, but that doesn’t stop some brands from calling them ‘better for the environment.’ Similarly, single-use plastic water bottles often tout ‘made with less plastic,’ though they’re still using plastic that isn’t biodegradable.
Ultimately, if a product can’t back up its visual cues or the claims it uses to capture your attention, it’s not really ‘green’ or eco-friendly. With just a few more seconds of vetting and verifying, you can easily check out these products to determine if they can help you live a more sustainable, environmentally-minded life.
Courtesy: Clean Eating
