Greenwashing Grows
Cuiyu had a little bit of a skeptical post on greenwashing some time ago. It’s a very important topic, considering how environmentalism is on the rise at least in terms of consumer awareness. From the New York Times via CorpWatch:
Full article here. Consumers beware."Home Depot sent a note a few months ago to the companies that supply the 176,000 products it sells, inviting them to make a pitch to have their products included in its new Eco Options marketing campaign.
More than 60,000 products — far more than obvious candidates like organic gardening products and high-efficiency lightbulbs — suddenly developed environmental star power.
Plastic-handled paint brushes were touted as nature-friendly because they were not made of wood. Wood-handled paint brushes witere promoted as better for the planet because they were not made of plastic.
An electric chainsaw? Green, because it was not gas-powered. A bug zapper? Ditto, because it was not a poisonous spray. Manufacturers of paint thinners, electrical screwdrivers and interior overhead lights claimed similar bragging rights simply because their plastic or cardboard packaging was recyclable.
“In somebody’s mind, the products they were selling us were environmentally friendly,” said Ron Jarvis, a Home Depot senior vice president who oversees the Eco Options program."
Consumers need to know more about things in general in order to make proper choices about the things they buy, but with today’s daily information overload and the huge tons of work each of us take on everyday, who has the time to read and attempt to understand so much? Yet, we must, because if we don’t we continue contributing to the deteriorating earth. So, what can be done?
It’s 4.30am here and I’m really bushed, so, I shall leave you, dear reader, to ponder that all by yourself. Goodnight!
I found a great homepage (www.bransparent.com) that gives you transparency by buying sustainable fashion…
Bransparent assembles offers from a variety of labels & online shops.
The so-called “Green Fashion” or “Ethical Fashion” is available on this website. They only offer products from certified labels that can prove their dedication for a socially and environmentally responsible production so the consumer knows where the products are from and how they were produced. Have a look at www.bransparent.com
Comment by Sandra — May 23, 2008 @ 8:20 pm