Greenwashing

By: Anikka Wattnem

Like many causes green has become trendy. Businesses are capitalizing on people’s interest and using it to their advantage. No one product is going to make you green and no product is perfect. Even most “green” products have some environmental impact.

Sometimes a business will make a donation or “plant a tree” in exchange for your purchase. While these type of programs often do give needed money to non-profit organizations they may not be as beneficial as they initially seem. The donation may be small for each purchase, although businesses usually set a minimum donation that they will make. If the product isn’t something you would buy without the green donation then maybe you should reconsider.

Remember the use of words such as “green” and “organic” are not completely regulated. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and research about what a “green” label really means. It’s highly unlikely a product will have no environmental impact. Focus on the improvements over what you have and strive for minimal impact. If a product claims to be “certified” green than check out what that certification really means and who authorizes it. Make sure that you are educated about any major purchase and hopefully about the smaller ones too.

I don’t mean to discourage your attempts to be green but just remind everyone to be mindful. Blindly following the word “green” may not lead you to a more environmentally friendly lifestyle. Use the information that you seek out to help you make an informed and intelligent decision.