So how many organic, all-natural, or organic claims made by manufacturers are frauds? Fifteen percent, forty percent, or sixty percent? Terra Choice Environmental Marketing reviewed over 1,000 products last year and found that 99% of their green and eco-friendly claims were invalid.
Isn’t that fraud? Well, the problem could be that there isn’t enough oversight or regulation to ensure they live up to their claims. All but one committed what are called the “six sins of greenwashing.”
A very insightful article was recently published in Fast Company Magazine by David Roberts outlining why companies “greenwash” their products.
When reading a label to see if it’s eco-friendly, cruelty-free, natural, or chemical-free, it’s easy to see a little eco icon or recycling logo and assume that because it exists, they must be telling the truth or they wouldn’t be allowed to print it. The truth is, regulations are few and far between, so it’s easy to get away with stating one thing and leaving out the deepest, darkest greenwash sins.
A good example would be using the recycle icon on a product and then having employees ride to market it in cars that get 15-20 mpg. So actually the product is not that eco-friendly at all. Believe it or not, it is happening every day. Until the public demands more honesty in the marketing of organic products, not much is likely to change.
One thing to note is that our government does not make it profitable for businesses to be truly green or green. The costs involved with businesses going green prevent many of them from being able to change the way they produce and market their goods and services.
Government incentives to become a true green company are not at the top of most politicians’ list. Therefore, it is up to each one of us, as conservators of the only land we have, to take care of our planet. We must send a strong and unanimous voice to our political leaders that unless they make wise decisions that are positive to protect the earth and its people, they will not remain in office.
So the next time you’re shopping for a product and make a conscious decision to go green, take a little time and explore what’s behind that little green or recycled icon. What you find can change the way you shop.