Green Corner: Beware of Greenwashing!

Greenwashing is misleading marketing/publicity by a company to present an environmentally responsible image. 

As public concern grows about climate change, businesses want to appear as green as possible. This can lead to greenwashing, such as mislabeling products or making invalid claims of the company’s environmental responsibility.

• Be skeptical—look for documentation of green claims
• Ignore vague labels on products, e.g. sustainable, Earth-friendly, green, natural
• Look for regulated labels, e.g. EnergyStar, USDA Organic, Green Seal, Fair Trade Certified. See the guide to labels here. 

Questions? Email Greencorner@uuaa.org.