Greenwashing: Is it really green or it is just marketing?

It's hip to be green these days. More and more businesses are providing consumers with green products. Slap the green eco-friendly label on it and it'll selling like gang-busters. Unfortunately this leaves truly green-conscious folks with a dilemma:

Is it really green or is it just marketing?

I recently heard from a radio show that we as consumers can go to TerriChoice at http://www.terrachoice.com/greenwash to determine for ourselves if a product is truly green. Here's an executive summary of the 6 criterion they suggestion we use:

1. Hidden Trade-Off - Paints a product greener than it really is
   
2. No Proof - Green claims that cannot be substantiated
   
3. Vagueness - Green claims so poorly defined that the real meaning is lost
   
4. Irrelevance - Green claims that are true, but are unimportant
   
5. Fibbing - Making false green claims
   
6. Lesser of Two Evils - Green claims that misleads consumers away from the true issue.
   

These criterion are what they call the sins of greenwashing - the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service. To get more details on each of the 6 greenwashing sins, download their PDF from their website. You can also report a greenwashed product by mailing greenwashing@terrachoice.com which also can be done from their website.

A website like this is good for everyone - the consumers and the corporations - because it allows the consumer to become more aware and educated. It also allows corporations to be held accountable and to understand what it takes to make a truly green product.

In any case, stuff like this starts always starts with the consumers. Educate yourself. Demand more from the corporations. If they fail the live up to your demands, report them so that they can improve.