Hello World! Welcome Friends! If you’re like many of us, you try to make eco-friendlier choices in your day to day, including when buying new products for your home. You likely look for recycled, organic, and natural goods and think about the choices you make before you buy more “stuff.” Keep reading for Sustainable Products Buying Tips.
However, sadly it’s not always easy to be sure that what we’re buying truly is better for the world. Many companies engage in greenwashing, spending more time marketing and selling wares as healthier for the planet than they do taking steps to make their goods and services sustainable. The onus is on us, then, to do our homework. Here are some factors to consider to help you be more confident in what you buy.
Choose Products with Proper Certification
You can feel more comfortable that goods are genuinely better for the planet if you purchase certified items. These days, there are many different programs, though, so do your research into them to ensure they adhere to standards you feel are high enough.
One of the most trusted certifications is the Global Organic Textile Standard. This is one of the world’s leading processing standards for textiles made from organic fibers. You’ll find a wide variety of quality GOTS-certified products, including mattresses, home textiles, and fabrics.
Look out, too, for items that fall under the Greenguard Certification Program, as these must meet strict chemical emissions limits. Products include paints, window treatments, furniture, textiles, and flooring. Plus, buy Fair Trade USA Certified goods that enable sustainable development and community empowerment, or Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certified wood and forestry-related products from responsibly-managed forests.
You can buy Cradle to Cradle Certified products too, which cover things like carpeting, textiles, furniture, building materials, and cleaning products. Goods that fall under this standard must follow a multi-attribute, continuous-improvement methodology in five categories relating to healthy and sustainable manufacturing.
It pays to look for highly-rated Energy Star electrical devices and building products that reduce energy consumption and pollution, and WaterSense rated faucets, toilets, shower heads, etc., which are certified as at least 20 percent more water-efficient, without sacrificing performance, than similar products.
Be Wary of Cutesy Images
When shopping, don’t be taken in by cutesy images that convey the concept of sustainability but don’t actually prove this in any way. Many companies use green color schemes on their packaging to make it seem the contents are better for the earth. They use pictures of trees, plants, pastures, grass, or happy-looking animals.
Often, when packaging is designed to scream that a product is “at one with nature,” it’s a sign that marketers may be attempting to divert attention and win you over with imagery rather than reality.
See Through Vague and Non-Specific Information and Taglines
Notice where companies use vague and non-specific information on their packaging and in their advertisements and other marketing collateral. For example, many products feature language such as “earth-friendly,” “pure,” “non-toxic,” “natural,” “green,” and “eco-friendly,” among other things, or brands use these kinds of phrases in their taglines.
While this doesn’t mean that these descriptors are 100 percent false, be aware that any corporation can talk about their goods in this way without having to prove that the messaging is true. Companies wrongly use these labels all the time and face no consequences, so don’t take these things at face value.
Plus, many firms talk about using some green ingredient in their product, such as organic cotton. However, when examining labels or contacting the company for more details, you might learn that this material’s percentage is so minute that it essentially becomes irrelevant.
Be wary of how ingredients are talked about, and consider if you’re being misled. If there isn’t any supporting information to show how a product stands up to the claims made by manufacturers and resellers, such as trusted third-party certifications, assume smoke and mirrors are at play.
Pay Attention to What’s Emphasized
Another tip is to pay attention to what gets emphasized by companies. When there’s greenwashing involved, you may see, if you look closely, that one small and often insignificant sustainable attribute is focused on, while other, environmentally-harmful practices get swept under the rug.
For example, firms might talk about how product packaging is recyclable, yet when you take a look at what they sell, you notice excessive use of total packaging materials and that the product itself is made from virgin, chemical-laden materials, none of which is recycled or recyclable. This is just one way corporations emphasize one positive aspect of production while ignoring the rest less-than-desirable factors.
These are just a few elements to consider as you shop. Consider a brand’s long-term track record, too, and the location items have had to travel from. Don’t be shy about asking sellers as many questions as you must to ensure you have adequate information, and consider it a red flag if companies won’t give you a straight answer. As a consumer, you have the right to learn about what you buy.
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Breathe New Life Into Your Outdoor Space
A Pantry Refresh & Organization
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Toodles,
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