Greenwashing: attempts by companies to make products appear "natural" or "healthy" or otherwise better for you/the environment than it actually may be. It's everywhere, like roaches or Walgreens. Greenwashing can happen to your food, beverages, cosmetics, skincare, shampoo, basic toiletries...anything. Companies know that people want to be "green" or environmentally friendly, whether it's for the environment, ingredientally (I made that up) superior food products, or a health cause. So, they do many things to make their products appear better in one or more of those ways. Some companies really do try; for example on some mainstream lotions you may see something like "95% natural!" which is a good start in bringing a product that really may be 95% "natural," or chemical-free, to regular store shelves where regular people can buy them. BUT - many companies are not so honest. How about putting a green-colored label on a bottle, or pictures of leaves on the label? That must mean it's all sticks, leaves, and dirt from the earth and totally pure, right? Or the words "all natural" are printed on the label, so of course it must be true. How many times have you ever actually read those ingredients lists? How does one define "natural"? The truth is, no one. That word has no definitive terms behind it that products must meet in order to be printed on a product label, so companies use it as they wish. To be labeled as organic, however, a product must meet certain regulated standards. The key term here is regulated- organic ingredients and products are regulated, but anyone can label a product as "natural."
On another greenwashing front: food products. Commercials air frequently for products containing whole grains. Because whole grains are healthy for you (there's more to that story, but another time). A line of certain cereals, for example, including some very popular cereals marketed toward children, which will remain nameless, claim to have such a great amount of whole grains per serving that the amount of sugar in the cereals is apparently completely negated. Who wouldn't love to eat whole grains coated in layers of sugar? And it has whole grains! It's good for you! Some of the same cereal lines would like us to think that eating their cereals will make us thinner, because "people who eat whole grains tend to weigh less." Or could it be that people who eat "whole grains" tend to make healthier food choices overall? Nah.
See this article by the Environmental Working Group. It's shameful that companies market their products to appear better than they are, or just the fact that they make such junk and market them to be so appealing to kids. Wow, bright colors and loud noise with lots of stuff going on in the commercial, it must be GREAT! That's not to say it's all horrible (well okay it might be), I mean I definitely had my favorites, and I still see adults eating those kinds of cereals regularly for breakfast. Um, did you not notice that you were 25 years old? Or 30? Or 40? Sweetie, it's the real world now, time to have a real breakfast. Once in a while, okay. Everyday, not okay. I digress. Ultimately it is up to parents to make the right choices for their children. But being a kid is about having all those sweets and junk food! Just let kids be kids! Well, I call BS. Who said because they're kids they have a right to eat lots of junk food? Kids have a right to a safe home environment, having their basic needs met, adequate nutrition, parents who don't beat them, and safe schools. Here is not the place for me to go into nutrition, health, mental function and academic performance. Sure those treats are yummy and can be fun to have. Sometimes. Of course I remember eating that stuff quite frequently when I was a kid. That doesn't make it right or okay to let my child pig out on sweets and junk food on a daily basis, or even a weekly basis. It's my job to make sure he's eating the right kinds of healthy foods for his growing little body.
The point is, just pay attention to the products you are purchasing or considering purchasing, if you are concerned about ingredients or environmental impact. Is what you are buying really necessary? How about bottled water? Buy a (preferably glass or stainless steel) reusable water bottle and fill it up with filtered water or tap water if you're not concerned about your tap water. Trust me, you will save money, and the environmental impact of all of those plastic water bottles is frightening. What's even worse? How about organic bottled water? I've never heard of something so ridiculous.
Learn to read labels. If you can't pronounce an ingredient, you probably shouldn't be eating it or putting it on your skin. The less ingredients, the better. Most importantly, you should recognize each ingredient, and avoid most preservatives, but especially chemical preservatives. There are many companies who print the pink ribbon on their labels and state that proceeds will help fund breast cancer research...yet at the same time some of those companies are using the very ingredients that are linked to causing breast cancer.
If you are concerned about good company policies, buying from smaller companies and such, please see this article. I have mixed feelings about this and won't be discussing it now. If you want to read about pesticides on your produce, and I recommend that you do, go here.
Until next time...
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