Separating green-washing from truly green
As “green” becomes a marketing boon, it’s also harder to sort out the meaningful labels from the green-washing.
Your pocketbook has proven its planet-saving power. Because shoppers demand it, it’s getting easier to find sustainable food, recycled-content packaging, earth-friendly cleaning products and other goods for the conscious consumer. But as “green” becomes a marketing boon, it’s also harder to sort out the meaningful labels from the green-washing. Consumer Reports has an on-line tool that can help. You can find the truth behind 150 different “eco-label” claims from 70 certifying organizations for food, household cleaners and more. Search by product or label. You’ll find that the “bird-friendly” label for coffee certified by the Smithsonian means a lot; “hypo-allergenic,” on the other hand, is not a claim you can count on.
