Greenwashing, the Eco-Hype that we should all AVOID

So what is 'greenwashing'?

It is basically companies and individuals who have seen the mainstream media, celebrities, and millions of consumers shifting to a more sustainable lifestyle. With this shift these companies and individuals claim that they are green, or their products are green, and they sell them to use so we think we are cooperating with our new morals and in reality we are consuming the very things we have learned to avoid.

First and foremost, these people are greedy businessmen (and women) who are just out to make a buck, but the worst part of greenwashing is the government agencies, like the FDA, who approve these money mongers and even create policies giving them the right to call something 'green' or 'all-natural' as long as 10% of the product is from sustainable resources.

Look at the HUGE companies that have always sold horrible products, Clorox is one that quickly comes to mind. These companies are now advertising a 'green' product but if you look at the ingredients you will notice a slight difference, give or take a few ingredients.


Carbon Offsets

For those who are to busy to really GO GREEN carbon offsets have always come across as a simple way to do your part and negate the environmental impacts you have without significantly impacting your lifestyle.

Hop on a plane to Europe and you can pay a carbon offsetting company a fee to clean up YOUR greenhouse gas emissions, they do this by planting a tree or two and even installing solar panels in underdeveloped countries.

In theory this is wonderful, a great way for those with extra money to really make a difference, yet continue jet setting and driving Escalades around town with only one seat filled.

So can this method work? Well a lot of experts believe that continuing to take exotic holidays and drive the big obnoxious SUVs will only continue to harm the environment no matter how much we 'carbon offset'.

Carbon offsetting is a way for people to continue polluting all the while being 'green' and we believe it is a scam unlike any other!

Instead of taking an exotic vacation try finding somewhere closer to home or even encourage your government officials to invest in a greener mode of transportation like rail, if our government could ensure that our rail systems were as fast, reliable, and convenient as air travel you could bet your last paycheck that traveling by rail would be the new trend. It is safer and more sustainable that air travel and in the future we should expect to see more routes, faster travel times, and cheaper fares.



So we have seen one example of greenwashing and there are thousands more, but the big picture is not for us to spell each scam out for you it is for you to learn how to notice them!

Here are some tips:

• When you buy organic beans from Kenya is it smarter than buying beans from a farm own the road? Some foods that are not organic can still be consumed with the correct washing methods and the environmental impact you have can be drastically reduced! Think about the gas used to get those beans to your local market versus the gas used to get them from down the road. We are not condemning organic food at all, in fact we agree that it is a better option all around, but we believe buying local, in season, foods are better for your local economy, the environment as a whole, and you will be surprised at how much is organic. In fact to get the 'organic' label is VERY hard, but if you are at the farmers market you can speak to the farmer and have him explain what he uses, most are greener than you would think.
• Buying Green Power is a HUGE scam since many electricity companies cannot provide ANY documentation on where your power is truly coming from. If you do have a company that can supply the documents needed then switch, but just because your getting power from a zero-emissions facility doesn't mean your AC can stay on all day and your phantom appliances
• When hiring green consultants make sure they are certified by a notable association and know what they are talking about, many consultants have little to no knowledge about going green or lowering your carbon footprint.
  
• When buying mainstream products that claim to be organic, all-natural, or anything associated with green be sure to do your homework and read the label, look at the packaging, and think about the shipping involved. You will learn a lot about the corporations you used to rely on and how they truly do business!