Greenwashing is becoming more prevalent as people become more conscious about our environment and the damage being done to it. And some companies are doing everything they can to greenwash you.
What is behind this greenwashing?
When consumers needs change, companies need to adapt and become more aware of what their customers want. Sometimes this can look like they are doing the right thing, when in fact a minor change can appear more significant. Unfortunately most of the time it’s up to us to find out if they are truly being sustainable or we are just being greenwashed.
Here are 6 statements companies can use to greenwash you.
Cruelty-free
Anyone can claim a product is cruelty-free as it’s not a legally defined term. If they are correctly claiming it as cruelty-free then they should go to the effort to get it independently certified. Look for the bunny logo of independent third-party certifications such as;
- Choose Cruelty-Free (CCF)
- PETA
- ‘leaping bunny’ (which is internationally recognised)
Recyclable
Many materials are technically recyclable, but aren’t practically recyclable. We need to be realistic and question if it WILL be recycled, not CAN it be recycled. With recycling becoming increasing harder around the globe, perhaps its time to look at alternatives.
Does the brand have a take-back or recycling program? Many companies are taking the recycling of their products into their own hands. By offering to take back old products or empty containers will result in a higher chance of it being recycled or repurposed in some way. This is one of the best ways to ensure the product will not end up in landfill at the end of its life.
Sustainable
There is currently no consistent definition of what it means to be sustainable. Some companies may implement sustainability in one part of their business but not in the rest, and if you have trouble finding information about a certain process, generally they don’t want you to know about it. And if you aren’t sure, ask them.
As a potential customer you have a right to know how the products are being made and where you are spending your money. Companies who are genuine about sustainability are completely transparent about every aspect of their business.
Beware of fashion brands who create sustainable lines with recycled materials. Generally this is a one-off release designed to make them appear more sustainable, where in fact the rest of their releases are unsustainable and their workers aren’t being ethically treated. There is more to a business being sustainable than one tiny aspect such as materials used.
Check out our article about B-Corp businesses and the process they must go through to gain their certification.
Biodegradable
Biodegradable sounds like a good thing but may not be as meaningful as first thought. Technically most materials are biodegradable, whether they take 1 week or 1 year to break down. Unfortunately this doesn’t mean it won’t harm the environment either.
Take plastic for example which is technically biodegradable because it will eventually break down, but will NEVER fully disappear. Yes, every piece of plastic ever made is still on this planet in some way or another. You want to be looking for natural materials, so that when they are returned to the environment they breakdown and return to the earth naturally.
Eco-friendly / Environmentally Friendly
This is a very vague term used that is often meaningless unless the company explains the reasons for using it. They could also be referring to ingredients, but what about the manufacturing process? It could be kind to the environment when it was being made, but what about the ingredients inside? When it’s used and potentially washed down the drain, what do those ingredients do to our waterways?
We need to be looking closer at the labels and find out why. They should be stating why it’s eco-friendly or environmentally friendly. And if not, then they have no valid claim to be listing their product as that.
Non-Toxic
Non-toxic is an unregulated term and when used on a product label has no legal definition. This is generally found on cleaning products stating they are ‘Green’ and ‘Non-Toxic’, but could potentially contain dangerous chemicals. They could also be referring to one of the ingredients, when the rest of the ingredients are toxic to us or the environment. Products can be toxic to us in many ways. This can include inhalation, skin contact or harmful effects due to the residue left behind.
So what can we do to prevent getting greenwashed?
While these companies can try and deceive us, it is ultimately up to us to determine whether a brand is truly sustainable. Read those labels, take a closer look at the ingredient lists, and look up those pesky one with a name too long to understand. We have the information at our fingertips to find out what we need to know.
While there are always going to be brands that try to look better than they really are, if a brand is doing the right thing they have nothing to hide. They will be transparent about every process they undertake because they aren’t afraid for you to know. That’s what we are about. Finding those doing good for the world and sharing them so you can make a difference when you choose to spend your money.
We’ve done the hard work for you, so check out our Eco Directory to discover some of the companies truly doing good in this world and deserve our support! And if you want to understand more about greenwashing, check out our article ‘Are you being greenwashed?’.