greendesigncollective/blog* » greenwashing

It’s not easy being Green.

emKem — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 03:21:02 +0000

Per this recent tongue-in-cheek post on Twilight Earth, I’ve decided to attempt the Top 10 Things That Every Green Blogger Must Do. I realize it’s a joke but frankly I would feel left out if I didn’t at least try. So let’s take a look at the list.

1. Create some type of Green Top 10 List. Wow, I’ve already done that! Awesome. I can skip ahead to #2.

2. Write at least one article each on CFL’s, Polar Bears and Al Gore. Now THIS is a challenge.

3. Create a Twitter account and start following @TreeHugger, @Grist, and @PlanetGreen. Uh, wow. I did this already too.

4. Write one article titled “It’s not easy being Green.” Ooh I thought I had done that. Wait… (changes name of current post)… OK, done.

5. Put up lots and lots of photos. See my coverage of Dwell on Design for lots and lots of photos.

6. Use the word “Green” as often as possible and always make sure you capitalize the word “Green.” Well, since the word is actually in the name of my Web site, I think I have this one covered.

7. Create an article about a company or organization that is counter to everything you stand for. Does my post about Greenwashing count? No? OK, I’ll try again.

8. Make sure that you have a photo of yourself in which you look like you are either hiking a trail, or just getting off work. Well, since I just got sent a “fan” letter from a mental institution (seriously), I might pass on the whole “personal photos” thing. I’m sure you understand.

9. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Ever. Really. You don’t want to turn into that Commie Marxist Socialist that people keep calling you! I’m neither a communist nor serious. After all, I am currently writing about satire…

10. Always keep them guessing. Oooh, I will!

Alrighty, it looks like the ones that I really need to attempt are #2 and #7. So, be on the look out for those soon! I really want to get my official “Green Blogger” patch

First Impressions

emKem — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:31:11 +0000

Some of the first things I saw here today include some “organic” furniture, a solar powered play house, and felt plant boxes:

These chairs are made of plastic that is supposedly recyclable.

A solar-powered playhouse!

This woollypocket.com plant box is made of felt and can basically be attached to any wall. This is one of my favorite things I saw all day!

Greenwashing! Boo!

emKem — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 18:38:03 +0000

Don’t ask me why I had to go all the way to the UK’s Guardian to find out about this, but according to their article:

“More than 98% of supposedly natural and environmentally friendly products on US supermarket shelves are making potentially false or misleading claims, Congress has been told. And 22% of products making green claims bear an environmental badge that has no inherent meaning, said Scot Case, of the environmental consulting firm TerraChoice.”

This, my friends, means that there’s a LOT of greenwashing going on. Greenwashing is, of course, the situation that occurs when a company makes claims that their product is environmentally friendly when, in fact, it is not. But to hear that up to 98% of the products on our shelves are doing this is quite frustrating. The article even cites a refrigerator that claimed an Energy Star rating that, in reality, it didn’t earn.

If consumers can’t trust the labels on the products that we are buying, how do we know that we are buying earth-friendly products? We don’t, without doing a lot of research, that we likely don’t have time for.

Companies need to stop greenwashing and start putting their money where their trees are planted!