Why buying "green" isn't always green.

While overall it is good that it has become trendy to care about environment there is also the downside to the green movement...greenwashing.  You can find it happening in every product market from housing to food.


What Is Greenwashing? 

Greenwashing, also sometimes called green sheene, refers to businesses who utilize the marketing benefits of going green by presenting their company in a manner that makes it appear that they are making changes to benefit the environment when their intentions are elsewhere (such as cost saving).  This practice often involves spinning changes in corporate policy so that they are viewed in a green light when there is no real argument to be made for a positive environmental impact.  Companies that green wash will spend more of their time advertising being green than they do working to implement beneficial green and sustainable programs.

You Can't Paint Your House Green

In the building industry a common form of greenwashing is consumers purchasing one of the many "green" paints on the market then claiming their entire house is eco-friendly.  It's great that you want your indoor air quality to improve but that doesn't mean your environmental footprint got smaller.  In truth, unless you needed to paint you just increased your footprint by needlessly using resources.  A lot of energy goes into making paint, packaging it, and getting it to your home.  Making smart environmental choices in your home or business means making numerous changes for the better till you've done all you can to create a sustainable and healthy envrionement.

Organic Roadtrip

Those who choose organics aren't immune to greenwashing either.  While many organic farming methods are better for the environment did you ever stop to check where your organic food is being produced?  Many grocery stores stock their organic food sections with produce and other products that have been shipped in from around the world.  What are the chances that you are still making less of an environmental impact after all of that transportation energy?  The, of course, you don't want to blindly follow the organic label anyway because organic it doesn't mean sustainable or humane:

requirements, which must be met in order for food to be labeled “U.S.D.A. Organic,” are fine, of course. But they still fall short of the lofty dreams of early organic farmers and consumers who gave the word “organic” its allure — of returning natural nutrients and substance to the soil in the same proportion used by the growing process (there is no requirement that this be done); of raising animals humanely in accordance with nature (animals must be given access to the outdoors, but for how long and under what conditions is not spelled out); and of producing the most nutritious food possible (the evidence is mixed on whether organic food is more nutritious) in the most ecologically conscious way. . .People don’t understand that, nor do they realize “organic” doesn’t mean “local.” “It doesn’t matter if it’s from the farm down the road or from Chile,” Ms. Shaffer said. “As long as it meets the standards it’s organic.” --The New York Times

So, eat organic if you are concerned about antibiotics, pesticides, and fertilization methods but don't let the corporations trick you into thinking that choosing organic is necessarily better for you or the environment.

Green Chic

Organic and recycled note cards, clothing and accessories is not immune to greenwashing either. As with food, in many cases these products are produced half way across the world in working conditions that we are often unaware of.  As with organic food, these long travel distances are very likely going to cancel out any potential environmental benefits.  If you are buying a recycled product that doesn't contain post-consumer waste that means they are just recycling waste product from the normal manufacturing process but not reclaiming anything that has been circulated to consumers.  While there is nothing necessarily wrong with recycling production waste in many cases these companies were doing that before the green movement (to save money) and are just taking advantage of the green pr.  So, if you want to purchase recycled products that help the environment; look for products that say post consumer when talking about recycled content.  If you are buying organic clothing and don't know what that really means Green Wardrobe: Getting Techie may help you understand.

What is Green?

"Green" is many things but is mainly a very elementary way of describing a whole class of products and actions which are beneficial to the environement.  If you try to purchase locally made (within 500 miles or less) products, avoid foods which have long ingredients lists that sounds weird, and remember that 'natural' isn't always safer (hemlock is natural) or better you'll have the kind of mind necessary to navigate through the greenwashing mine field to come out the other end as a savvy eco-shopper.