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Is it really green?
By Joanne Scharer
from WillametteLive, Section Green
Posted on Mon Dec 10, 2007 at 07:50:52 PM PDT
These days consumers are overwhelmed with products that make environmental claims and while some are accurate, certified and verifiable, others are just plain fibbing to sell products.

A new study released by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing firm is warning buyers that so-called "green" products are likely stretching the eco-truth, or "greenwashing." The study, "Six Sins of Greenwashing," found that 99 percent of the products randomly surveyed, ranging from toothpaste to printers, were guilty.

The environmental shortcomings were so widespread that TerraChoice separated them into six categories - or the "Six Sins":

  • The Hidden Trade-Off: "Energy-efficient" electronics that contain hazardous materials.

  • No Proof: Shampoos claim to be "certified organic," but offer no verifiable certification.

  • Vagueness: Products claiming to be 100 percent natural when many naturally occurring substances are hazardous, like arsenic, and formaldehyde.

  • Irrelevance: Products claiming to be CFC-free (chlorofluorocarbon-free), even though CFCs were banned 20 years ago.

  • Fibbing: Products falsely claiming to be certified by an internationally recognized environmental standard like EcoLogo, Energy Star or Green Seal.

  • Lesser of Two Evils: Organic cigarettes or "environmentally friendly" pesticides.

    To prove their accuracy, manufacturers and suppliers can request an assessment and EcoLogo certification to determine whether a product's claims are valid. EcoLogo's insignia helps consumers know that an independent third party has verified a product's green qualifications.

    The study and consumer tip sheets can be found at terrachoice.com.

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