The term "green" has been nominated as one of the biggest and most obnoxious buzzwords around. But what exactly does it mean? It implies being environmentally responsible, using less energy and creating less pollution.
A new study shows most so-called "green" products are not living up to that promise.
The report by environmental consultancy TerraChoice has found that claims made by an astonishing 95% of consumer products are misleading and identifies several sins including no proof, vagueness where there is a broad definition that is misunderstood (mercury and arsenic are "natural" elements) and outright lies. Other sins include "hidden trade-off" where the business would cite one green attribute while ignoring the potential negatives. A chlorine bathroom spray, for example, can call itself green because the bottle is made with recycled plastic. Trouble is chlorine is highly toxic. There is also the sin of "false labeling " when a manufacturer creates its own label that looks as if the product meets third-party certification or was independently tested, when it wasn't.
The TerraChoice report makes the point that companies are getting better and becoming more trustworthy, but it's coming off a low base. Fewer than 5% can be believed. The evidence suggests that greenwashing is rampant. The lesson for all of us: don't trust any company making green claims.
no comment untill now