Greenwashing: What is it and How to Spot it!

Comic courtesy of Tom Fishburne and Skydeckcartoons.com

Being good to the earth does not require complicated strategies or overwhelming efforts. So often we are led to believe that to be a truly environmentally conscious consumer, we must spend mass amounts of money and use only "special" products and buy certain "items". You know the products I am talking about right? The ones with that purty little 'green' label that make it look like it is the uber 'eco friendly' choice and worth all that extra money out of your wallet?

What is "greenwashing" you ask?

Greenwashing is when a company deliberately markets their product as being an environmentally friendly choice, when in fact it isn't. At all. Companies that greenwash their products do so, knowing they are blatantly misleading their customers into buying a product (and often paying up to 20 or 30 per cent *more*) that is neither organic, eco friendly, fair trade nor good to the environment. To put it simply, greenwashing products to trick consumers into buying them (and like I mentioned, paying more for them) means bigger profits for these corporations and companies. They don't care that they are lying to you. It is all about the bottom line - money, money and more money.

How do you spot greenwashing?

You need to be vigilant and read labels. Do your research. This is your hard earned money and you have the right to give/spend it where you want and to not be manipulated by a misleading label. It doesn't have to be hours of research, but if you see a product that is making the claim to be a better choice for you, the environment or both, just a quick Google search with the product name will get you quite far, especially if you start Googling the ingredients. I always get good, honest results if I Google "the truth about {insert what you want to research here}".

I find cleaning and baby products are often the most greenwashed, especially by many mainstream corporations who want in, financially speaking, on the large consumer trend toward eco friendly shopping.

This is my favourite example of a greenwashed baby product:

Look at the ad colours and the leaves up in the top to nail down that perception of 'natural'. It's all about perception in these packages and marketing strategies. Then they went in and added in some organic cotton to their product. By adding in organic cotton they have a "new" product to market and to shout out to consumers that they care, they are listening and they are responsible. {rolls eyes}

The truth about Huggies Pure and Natural is that they added in a little strip of organic cotton on the OUTSIDE of the diaper but are hoping you will think it is on the inside against baby's skin. They mention it is on the outside on their website but not on the front of the package and this is deliberate. They also advertise they use less ink on the graphics on the diaper. Again greenwashing. They just use less ink compared to their regular diapers.

The dioxins and chemicals are still up up against the baby's skin - that hasn't changed at all.

Other than a little organic cotton on the outside (which was most likely done to create this greenwashed product in the first place), they changed the colours to green and yellow in the packaging and that packaging conveniently has words thrown in to create the perception of an environmentally friendly product, when in fact it is the farthest thing from environmentally healthy. Most importantly, they want you to believe this is a healthier option for your child in hopes you'll spend more on it.

Their intention here is to deliberately mislead parents/caregivers into purchasing a product that costs MORE and is not better for their baby and not better for the environment.

You see with the soft green and yellow colours and words "organic, pure, natural" they are counting on the emotional response of parents choosing this and paying more to do something that they believe to be better for their baby and better for the environment (this is the key, they play on your feelings to their financial benefit). You can bet they've spent countless dollars on focus groups to know they can do this and get away with it. It's a greenwashing double whammy folks! Don't buy into it!

I'm a fan of cloth diapers myself and that is what I will always advise people to use if I am asked for my opinion. But if you choose to use disposable diapers, don't buy into this Huggies Pure and Natural greenwashing campaign they have going on,okay? They are misleading you and charging you more to do it. Don't let them.

(look for upcoming posts on greenwashed foods and for more eco friendly disposables in the near future - I'm on a tangent here and this is just the beginning! :Þ)

Before I move on, I have to touch on another claim I see all over baby products. My other favourite greenwashing term especially on items for children is "BPA Free!"

The term "BPA Free" especially when it comes to plastic, means nothing. Absolutely nothing.

Did I mention it means nothing?

A study conducted by the Environmental Health Perspectives stated that:

"almost all commercially available plastic products we sampled, independent of the type of resin, product, or retail source, leached chemicals having reliably-detectable EA, including those advertised as BPA-free. In some cases, BPA-free products released chemicals having more EA [endocrine activity] than BPA-containing products."

In laymens terms, it's often the plastic products claiming to be "BPA free" that are actually just as toxic, if not more so than the products containing the actual BPA. Crazy eh?

Comic courtesty of Scott Adams and www.dilbert.com

So what do you do?

Keep it simple. Heather and I came up with the tagline for our website for a reason. "Simple solutions for a significant impact" because it is true. Make your mantra "simple" and realize that making choices that help you, your family and/or the environment do not need to be expensive, nor complex. The best solutions are the simple solutions.

Okay okay, I'll move on from the word simple now, but you get my point right? :D

Don't waste your time spending hours and hours researching how plastic is made and which are better plastic options unless you absolutely have to or honestly really want to. Look into things, absolutely and always be informed the best you can but you just don't need to make it complicated. Instead, simply switch to glass or stainless steel where ever you can - that is easy.

My favourite glass containers for everything from kids snacks to things stored in my pantry, are Mason Jars of all sizes. It was my eco hero, my Auntie Shirley, who made me realize this great little trick! ♥ Mason Jars are effective and just as importantly they are very, very inexpensive and! and! if you lose the lid, you can just go out and buy more lids just like that! (I think I might need to find a support group for my "Missing Container Lids Frustration Syndrome" that plagues me all the time :Þ). I've dropped them (the jars, not the lids) on my hardwood floor and had a back pack full of snacks in these little glass jars tumble out of the back of my vehicle right onto the concrete and they didn't break.
I have Mason Jars that were used over 50 years ago and are still going strong. I can't say the same for plastic (although anything made out of plastic even from 50 years ago, is sadly still around somewhere most likely...).

Cleaning products are also culprits for greenwashing...

Get to know the companies better who make cleaning products because there are just as many wonderful, ethical companies out there who are worth spending your money on and supporting. If you really want to keep it simple, make your own cleaning products. Some vinegar, water, a few drops of your favourite essential oils (like tea tree, lemongrass etc), baking soda and citric acid if you need a boost, are fantastic for all purpose cleaning. The essential oils make your cleaning concoctions smell wonderful, are less likely to harm you or the the environment and if you are using tea tree oil or lemongrass (my two faves) they are also powerfully disinfecting. Essential oils are my hobby du jour, so you can expect more posts down the road from me on all the cool things I am finding out about them! The one thing to realize with essential oils is less is more and to respect them. Too much directly on the skin can be irritating (ie don't throw in half a bottle of lemongrass essential oil to your sink full of water and do your dishes kinda thing, or use it in a massage full strength etc).

Greenwashing is going down because consumers are refusing to fall for it anymore...

The good news is, green washing tactics are starting to go down and this is because consumers, like yourself, are starting to see what is happening and thus, demanding better. You vote with your dollar so be aware and don't be completely misled into spending more on a product that is greenwashing itself and in actuality doing nothing good for you or the environment.

Spend your hard earned dollars on the companies that deserve it because they are truthful, ethical and are making products that actually are eco friendly and better for you and your family. ♥

I hope you are all having a fantastic week so far!

With love and light ♥,

 

PS!  Remember that we're giving away a gorgeous handmade denim bag made by Blue Jane's Handbags for Hope! 

You can enter by letting us (and her!!) know that you appreciate her efforts.  After all, she has made over 1130 bags and given over $10,000 to charity!

You have 3 chances to win: 
1)  Comment on our Facebook Page.
2)  Comment on our original giveaway post.
3)  Comment on Blue Jane's Facebook Page.

But hurry, the giveaway ends Friday morning at 8am MDT! :D Thanks for caring! ♥