We’d all prefer to buy from companies that share our values—and for those of us who strive to be environmentally conscious, picking out which products we purchase is a vital decision. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to tell if a product is truly eco-friendly just by looking at it. Green is in, after all, and plenty of companies will go to great lengths to appear green when all they’re really after is making more money.
If you truly want to ensure that the things you buy are making as little environmental impact as possible, you’re going to have to spent a little extra time. Here are 5 simple techniques you should keep in mind.
Disregard “Greenwashed” Branding
Plenty of companies will try to trick you into thinking their product is environmentally responsible with earth-toned packaging or a label featuring an illustration of a tree. Don’t be fooled by any business that pays lip service to sustainability with broad, vague imagery. Tactics like this are known as “greenwashing,” and it’s important to look past them when judging a product’s impact. Instead, you’ll need to…
Focus on Specific Claims
A good place to start is by looking at the claims the company makes about their product—whether that’s on their website, in their advertisem*nts, or on the packaging of the product itself. Pay special attention to how detailed and specific they are. It’s easy to claim that a product is “green” or “all natural,” but broad statements like that don’t really mean anything when you get right down to it. If, on the other hand, a product is advertised as being made from 100% recycled material, that’s a very specific detail—one that’s much easier to trust.
Look for Official Certifications/Labels
One of the most reliable ways to judge a company’s eco-friendliness is to see how it’s been judged by reputable third-party organizations. Check their website or the label of the product itself for green certifications. In particular, look for Energy Star (for energy efficiency), USDA Organic Seal (for organic products), Forest Stewardship Council (for products made from trees in responsibly managed forests), and Green Seal (for general sustainability).
Check the Company’s PR
Generally, the things that third parties say about the company are more trustworthy—but it’s also worth looking into things that the company says about itself. Check the business’s website, particularly the About Us and media room pages. CompanyFolders.com has a great example of this, devoting a special page specifically about their eco-friendly initiatives and printing practices.
You can also check to see if a company has won any awards or accolades for their sustainability efforts. There might also be published corporate social responsibility reports or sustainability reports; these are often the best way to find facts and statistics.
Research the Company Externally
Invest a bit of time into researching the business in question. Do a quick Google search and see what the media is saying about what the company does to help the environment. Be sure to seek out reputable, trustworthy sources with a long history of integrity. Ethical Consumer, for instance, profiles and rates companies on their eco-friendliness. Try using the Aspiration app and check out the business’s Aspiration Impact Measurement; this is a score that is based on things like greenhouse gas emissions, energy efficiency, and other stats.
Being socially responsible isn’t about putting every single decision you make through a “purity test.” No company is perfect, after all. But you can make reasonable choices on a day-to-day basis. Try to frequent sustainable businesses that make an effort to maintain a low environmental impact.
FAQs
Eco-friendly packaging includes packaging that is easy to recycle and made from materials manufactured using minimal impact on energy consumption or natural resources. More often than not, eco-friendly packaging is made from recycled materials. It's commonly referred to as sustainable or green packaging too.
How do you know if packaging is eco-friendly? ›
Eco-friendly packaging includes packaging that is easy to recycle and made from materials manufactured using minimal impact on energy consumption or natural resources. More often than not, eco-friendly packaging is made from recycled materials. It's commonly referred to as sustainable or green packaging too.
How can we identify a sustainable product? ›
A product is usually considered sustainable if it: Doesn't deplete natural, nonrenewable resources: A sustainable product is made from renewable resources; in other words, resources that can't be fully depleted.
How to determine if a product is eco-friendly? ›
How to recognize a sustainable product easily?
- Raw materials recycled and reused in products. ...
- Recyclability of materials used in products. ...
- Renewable materials in products. ...
- Tóxic free products. ...
- Use of non-petroleum based plastics in products.
On the other hand, when we call something sustainable, it means that a single attribute is good for the environment — not necessarily everything about the product. "Eco-friendly" is also considered a greenwashing term, given that it is regularly used in misleading marketing claims (keep reading for more on that topic).
How do you know if a brand is eco-friendly? ›
Transparency and Ethics: Brands committed to environmental sustainability often demonstrate transparency in their practices. They share information about their supply chain, labor conditions, and the steps they take to reduce their environmental impact.
How is packaging eco-friendly? ›
Design your packaging intelligently
- Reduce packaging size. ...
- Know your product's carbon footprint. ...
- Reduce waste with virtual sampling. ...
- Source renewable materials. ...
- Choose recycled plastic over virgin plastic. ...
- Use eco-friendly void fillers and inserts. ...
- Choose more sustainable inks. ...
- Use more sustainable, easily separated adhesives.
Sustainability is measured by assessing performance of Social, Environmental, and Economic principles. While a balanced treatment of all three is an ideal goal, it is not always achievable.
What is a truly sustainable product? ›
Refers to goods or services designed, produced, and utilized in a manner that minimizes environmental impact, conserves resources, and promotes social responsibility throughout their entire lifecycle.
What to look for in sustainable products? ›
Here are examples of features that reflect a product was sustainably made:
- 100% biodegradable (check out Nice 'N CLEAN® SecureFLUSH™ Technology Flushable Wipes!)
- 100% compostable.
- Made from renewable materials.
- Made from recyclable materials.
- Manufactured using ethically sourced labor.
- Assess All Raw Material Sources. Let's start with one of the easiest and most influential factors in product sustainability. ...
- Check It's Recyclability. ...
- Inspect the Manufacturing Process. ...
- Assess The Supply Chain. ...
- Measure It's Transportability. ...
- Research Source Locations. ...
- Ensure Compliance Is Checked. ...
- Measure The Wastage.
Ecomark is a certification mark issued by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for products which are ecologically safe and adheres to the standards prescribed by the BIS. It was first issued in 1991 by a resolution.
What does 100% eco-friendly mean? ›
It's often used to indicate 'habitat', 'home', or 'Earth', so 'eco-friendly' means Earth-friendly. According to the dictionary, being eco-friendly means being 'designed to have little or no harmful effect on the environment. Therefore, products, goods, events, and eco-friendly services do not cost the planet.
Is buying green a lie? ›
Greenwashing is the practice of making an unsubstantiated or misleading claim about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or company practice and can make a company appear to be more environmentally-friendly than it really is.
How to identify a green product? ›
Look for products with labels from reliable organizations that evaluate the environmental impact of each item. For example, Green Seal is a nonprofit organization that conducts a rigorous, scientific analysis of the overall impact of products.
Is eco-friendly Vegan? ›
Based on its models of vegan, vegetarian, fish-eating and meat-eating diets, “vegan and vegetarian diets have substantially lower [greenhouse gas] emissions, land use and water use requirements than meat-containing diets and that diets with reduced animal-based foods tend to be healthier and have lower environmental ...
What is the environmentally friendly packaging symbol? ›
The Green Dot symbol on packaging indicates that the manufacturer has financially contributed to a system for the collection and recycling of packaging waste in the country or region where the symbol is used. It's important to note that this symbol does not necessarily mean that the packaging is recyclable.
What type of packaging is most environmentally friendly? ›
Compostable materials
Packaging made from compostable materials, such as bagasse (sugarcane fiber), bamboo, molded pulp, or mushroom mycelium provide an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional packaging. These materials break down naturally and can be composted alongside organic waste.
What packaging is not environmentally friendly? ›
For example, a typical snack chip bag is made up of seven layers of foil and plastic. It seems reasonable to design and reduce weight, but separating and recycling layers is challenging. Some of the most common inappropriate packaging materials include Styrofoam, plastic bags, and plastic wrap.
How do you know if packaging is recyclable? ›
On most plastic bottles, containers and other packaging products you will find the universal recycling symbol of the chasing arrows triangle. Within the symbol, there is a number ranging from 1-7. Although manufacturers use the recycle symbol on their products, not all plastics are recyclable.
