Green Washing Guidelines

Day by day I am inundated with new products, weeding through the good, the bad, the seriously oogly, and the uber chic. And amongst all of these I am often searching for a sign of what possibly could make this product 'green.' Of course, I often have to ask myself if what the websites spout as a dedication to the environment is really just a whole bunch of green washing, or if I should have faith and maintain the belief that every little bit counts. (I have to say, in my heart of hearts, I would rather a little than nothing at all, like a company that sources FSC woods even if they're going to use regular chemical based stains, because at least the wood isn't being sourced from companies that ravage forests and leave the flora and fauna without home or recourse.) So I am always happy when I find these helpful shopping tips. It may be easy for me at this point to wade through the mire, but I realize that there are plenty of people out there who know far more than I, and plenty of information I think is necessary to share. Here are some articles I came across that I enjoyed, and wanted to pass on:

Gaiam Life's Guide to Buying Eco-Friendly Furniture - Although you may not be able to incorporate all the ingredients to an eco-friendly sofa, it's a good checklist to have, and something to work from when searching. I also like that the article discusses more than what makes a piece green, but what makes a piece socially conscious, like fair trade, vintage, etc.

So this next site was actually started by a marketing company that is 'science-based marketing' dedicated to helping environmental leaders and stewards get their goods out there. The company focuses solely on sustainable companies and has developed wonderful marketing and positioning strategies for innumerable companies. What they're most known for, however, is their campaign the 'Six Sins of Green Washing' which is now the Seven Sins of Greenwashing.' It is all about a study they did to understand the environmental claims made on products & if they're really true. And luckily for the world - they not only got the down low, but they knew how to sound the horn!

And just in case you're not entirely sure what it means, here's a general definition - Green washing

And a few more sites to check out:

Greenwashing Index

It Ain't Easy Being Green

And I posted this blog earlier - A Little Info Goes a Long Way