What is green washing?
Greenwashing is a term used to describe when a company or organization spends more time and money claiming to be “green” or "non-toxic" through advertising and marketing than actually implementing business practices that minimize environmental impact.
The goal of greenwashing is not to change behaviors but rather to make money off environmentally-friendly, health friendly products and services, while continuing poor corporate practices. For example, a gas station may use reclaimed rainwater in its restrooms but still dump millions of gallons into the ground each year from its underground fuel tanks.
How can you spot green washing?
It can be hard to tell the difference between a company that is truly eco-friendly or non-toxic and one that's just trying to profit off of people's growing interest in sustainable products. This is why you need to look for these signs:
Unverifiable or vague claims. If they don't have any verifiable proof, they probably aren't being honest. For example, if they say "all-natural" but don't specify which ingredients are organic, or if they claim their product is made with 100% recycled plastic but don't give you any information about how much recycled material was used (or even whether it was really recycled at all).
Buzzwords like natural or organic. These words can mean different things depending on who uses them and how they're applied—a lot of greenwashing happens when companies use buzzwords without giving any real details behind them. For example, a shampoo could be labeled as "organic," but if it contains chemicals harmful to marine life like phthalates (which have been found in many personal care products), then this label would be misleading consumers about its environmental impact!
Certifications like USDA Organic seal . Be sure to look for certifications from trusted organizations before making any purchases—this will help prevent false advertising by verifying that what companies are saying about their products' effects on health/environmental quality is true!
Where do we find green washing?
Green washing is everywhere. You’ll find it in the cleaning products you use to make your house sparkly clean, the cosmetics that help you look young and beautiful, the food that makes your tummy happy—even in your clothes! It’s also in pet products, furniture upholstery and jewelry. And if there were any doubt as to its ubiquity, just think about how many times we fly or drive cars with “green” logos on them…
But greenwashing isn't just limited to these things; it can happen anywhere! Anything that's marketed as eco-friendly or non-toxic may not be what it seems. The key is knowing how companies can greenwash their brands and then determining which ones are actually doing so (spoiler: most aren't).
What can we do as consumers to stop buying into these deceptive marketing tactics?
Be an informed consumer.
Do your research.
Look for third party certifications and labels.
Look for nontoxic product information.
Look for the word "natural" in marketing materials or on packaging, or when you're shopping online and see a vague phrase like "plant-based." This is a tactic used by brands that are trying to make their products seem natural when they're not actually made of ingredients from nature at all! It's also often used interchangeably with terms like "organic" to confuse people into thinking that these products are safer than they really are.
Look for the word "organic" on packaging as well—it's another way some companies try to trick consumers into thinking their products are better than they really are!
Note if ingredients are not listed on websites or advertising.
Green washing is a way of deceiving consumers into thinking products are good for the environment or your health when they're not.
Green washing is a way of deceiving consumers into thinking products are good for the environment or their bodies when they're not. The word was first coined in 1985 by Jay Westerveld, an environmental activist, and it's been used ever since to describe companies who use green marketing tactics to trick people into buying their products.
The main idea behind green washing is that companies are making false claims about their products or services, which puts them at odds with consumers who want to know what they're getting into when they purchase something. For example: If you buy an organic apple at the grocery store only to find out later that it's actually genetically modified (GM), then you've been duped by greenwashing. If your favorite brand of yogurt claims it has no artificial ingredients but also contains high fructose corn syrup and guar gum—which most yogurts don't contain—then again, they've tricked you into buying something that isn't really what you thought it was going in.
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