Greenwashing Labels – Misleading Green Labeling

According to a study, 95% of consumer products committed at least 1 offense of “greenwashing” or displaying unproven environmental claims.  The word green or eco friendly can and does help sell products.  It is time to examine terminology closer.

Greener Choices has a good Eco-labels center that helps you decipher what green product claims really mean.  Some interesting facts.  This little marketing logos or bugs work to make products look more legit.

The “free-range” label doesn’t necessarily mean the animals went outdoors.

Meat labeled as “natural” can contain artificial ingredients, and Natural does mean anything unless it pertains to meat and poultry where it means minimally processed with no artificial flavor, coloring, or chemical preservatives.  “Natural” turkey can have diets that include hormones, anti-biotics, or genetically modified corn.

Simple Green says it is nontoxic but it contains 2-butoxyethanol that has been linked to reduced fertility in mice.

Terrachoice covers the six sins of Greenwashing: Hidden Trade-off, No Proof, Vagueness, Irrelevance, Fibbing, Lesser of Two Evils.

FTC has a guide to various green terms.

Related posts:

1. Chicken Safety, Turkey Safety – Salmonella, Campylobacter bacteria
2. Green Eco Friendly Turkey Fryer for Thanksgiving
3. Hormel Natural Choice Natural Deli Meat
4. New Frito-Lay Natural Potato Chips
5. Chipotle’s Natural Chicken
6. What Do Green Labels or Eco Seals Mean
7. Tyson settles consumer class-action suit over Chicken Labeling
8. Healthy Food Options to Avoid Harmful Chemicals

Posted on November 2nd, 2010
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