As people that love the planet, we want to do our best to keep it clean, green, and healthy! One great way to start is by switching from standard products to eco-friendly alternatives. But, there’s a caveat…

Whether it’s green-colored labeling, earth-loving imagery, or planet-focused product descriptions, many companies exaggerate their sustainability. This tactic, otherwise known as greenwashing, often leads consumers to believe they are investing in sustainable products when this might not be the case. 

So, to help you find truly safe, eco-friendly products let’s talk about how to avoid greenwashing and the best resource for environmentally conscious consumers.

What is greenwashing?

Greenwashing is a term used to describe tactics used by companies or organizations to present themselves or their products as more environmentally friendly than they actually are. The word is a combination of “green” indicating care for the environment and “washing” indicating false portrayal or cleaning up the truth. 

How does greenwashing happen?

Greenwashing happens when companies overstate their “green” benefits without proof to back up their claims. This is often accompanied by a lack of transparency about their negative environmental impact. Many companies claim to be environmentally responsible but use unsustainable manufacturing processes, ingredients, or packaging – sometimes all three. 

Examples of greenwashing

Most products labeled “eco-friendly,” “natural,” “sustainable,” or “BPA-free,” or even “plastic-free” don’t entirely live up to their claims. This happens all too often in the reusable food and drinkware industry. Unfortunately, many reusable water bottle and food container companies don’t tell the full story. In most cases, these items use plastic parts in their lids or colorful coatings that leach chemicals and spread microplastics. These harmful substances can end up in our bodies, oceans, and landfills. 

How to spot greenwashing

Companies who emphasize environmental responsibility should provide proof to back up any statements they make about their products. That’s why we encourage every consumer to assess and verify claims companies make. You can look for full ingredient lists, clear and specific language, or affiliations with trusted environmental watchdog organizations. Without this kind of evidence (or similar), it’s fair to assume that a company is greenwashing. 

How to choose truly eco-friendly products

As a consumer it can be really difficult and time consuming to avoid greenwashing. Luckily, there are powerful, science-based resources out there that do the hard work for you! We love Made Safe®, a non-profit organization that conducts rigorous product testing. Their amazing work connects consumers with products that have undergone both human health and ecosystem-focused certification.