Greenwashed: 95% Of Your So-Called 'Green' Products

Screenshot/Infographic

We've all heard the term "greenwashing," prompting us to gather our "green" products and give the labels a discerning double-take. Some products that claim to be eco-friendly are actually eco-aloof, fooling eco-conscious consumers into stocking their shelves with products that are much unhealthier than their labels promise. An infographic based on a 2010 study by Terrachoice shows consumers the tricks of the trade and how to avoid them.

Greenwashed: The Truth About 95% of So-Called Green Products begins with a shocking reveal that out of the 5,296 products surveyed in the study, only 265 were as green as claimed. 95% of green products available to consumers are greenwashed. Go on, have a seat and absorb that information. It made us shake our fingers and heads at manipulative marketing tactics and lack of government regulation and oversight.

Scrolling down through the "Seven Common Ways Companies Greenwash," the fourth way says that the following materials are considered "all-natural:" arsenic, uranium, mercury and formaldehyde. So remember, "all-natural" doesn't always mean "healthy." It can also mean toxic.

At the bottom of the infographic, legit labels for overall greenness, food quality and standards, environmental standards, energy efficiency and indoor air quality are shown, making selecting actual green products easier, especially for visual consumers.

Despite the bevvy of inaccurate ingredients and materials claims in the majority of our products, good news does exist within the world of green-ish products. Most greenwashing is more so exaggeration than lies and 32% of cleaning products and 31.7% of DIY construction products use certification by legit eco-labels. Exhale Things aren't so bad, but they're still far from great. Check out the infographic below to help guide you through the greenwashing jungle.

Created by: Marketing Degree

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By Lauren Lloyd in News on November 29, 2011 5:30 PM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Alan

Yes - At first I thought good stuff and then I saw the shop at Big Box Stores piece - If anything shopping locally and at local community stores would be better for the environment - We don't want to encourage the system and feed into the corporate greed. Bad article.

Gregory Bennett

This is a poor attempt to make the big box stores look good, what a joke. What's next, Green Cigarettes.

Stephen Cox

Seriously? Shop at big box stores?

wevotedforallofthis

right? that's the only message i got from this piece. in fact, stephen said the exact words that immediately popped into my mind while reading this propaganda.

more scrutinized? perhaps. more apt and able to cover their tracks to meet their bottom line? without a doubt.

theres deception in sales no matter if its from a ma and pa or a big box. take responsibility and educate yourself. yes you. and then take that wisdom, and your money, and spend it in a small, locally owned business. because isn't that exactly what what's going on right now is about?

and no matter how far off track my complaints are from the real message of this piece (and i don't think i really get the point - what? people trying to sell you stuff lie sometimes? no shit) - to ignorantly, or blatantly throw that part about the big box store being better in, is weak-minded. AND, exactly the frame of mind we all need to be getting away from.

learn.