What is “Green Washing”?
Green Washing is:
* A company falsely claiming that a product, policy, or activity is more environmentally
friendly than it actually is.
* Exaggerating “environmentally friendly” actions, intended to mislead consumers who prefer
buying from environmentally conscious brands.
A survey found 83% of Americans are concerned about the environmental impact of products they buy, and say it’s important for companies to produce more environmentally friendly products. If most Americans want to buy from sustainable companies, brands ignore it at the cost of their own profits.
U.S. companies have engaged in “Green Washing” on a wide scale, and have made headlines over the years. In the mid-1980s an oil company, Chevron, commissioned TV and print ads to broadcast its environmental “dedication.” But while the now-infamous campaign ran, Chevron was actively violating the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, as well as spilling oil into wildlife refuges.
This was not the only corporation making outrageous claims. In 1991, chemical company DuPont announced its double-hulled oil tankers with ads featuring marine animals prancing in chorus to Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy.” It turned out that the company was the largest corporate polluter in the U.S. that year (not to mention very cheesy ads)!
There is a major difference between “Green washing” and Green Marketing!
Green Marketing companies, the “good guys,” sell products or services based on Legitimate environmental positives. Find some of these in East Aurora!
Green Marketing is generally practical, honest, and transparent, and it means that a product or service meets most or all the following criteria:
* It’s manufactured in a sustainable fashion.
* It’s free of toxic materials or ozone-depleting substances.
* It’s recyclable or produced from recycled materials.
* It’s made from renewable materials.
* It’s NOT made of materials harvested from a protected area, harm threatened or endangered species.
* It’s NOT manufactured with slave labor or workers not paid fairly
* It DOES NOT use excessive packaging.
* It’s designed to be repairable rather than disposable.
Companies provide some information on their websites, but please do some investigation regarding the criteria above. Unfortunately, it’s easy for green marketing to translate to green washing when an organization doesn’t live up to sustainable business practices. “Eco-friendly”, “natural” and “green” are widely used terms and can be misleading to consumers.
Knowledge is power! It’s up to all of us to keep apprised and share this information with our families, our colleagues, and our towns. Ask questions. Keep businesses on their toes. Support local restaurants and businesses with the ACES sticker, who are trying their best to be environmentally sound.
-by Leigh O”Brien, ACES member
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