It’s good that you’re contributing a piece of your earning and making a difference in society by switching to green products. but how do you verify if the product is green? – I’m sure when you visit a store that sells green products, either physical or online, you look for labels reading, organic, recycle, eco-friendly, etc.

If you’re not conscious about them, the label read out loud enough to verify if the product is green – you know how social media works. The earth-friendly labels make you do the right thing easier than ever? or DOES IT?

Not everything that says “green” really is, and even if a product carrying this label might be a little better for the environment, it may still be hazardous to you and your family.

What are fake eco-friendly products?

With the rising trend to go green, companies and marketers are scrambling to put eco-friendly buzzwords on their products and services. “BPA free,” “biodegradable,” “natural,” and “non-toxic” are some of the many phrases that you might see on the products you use or buy.

Companies adopt “greener” names with earth-friendly colors. The increase in these changes has also led to more instances of false eco-labeling, also known as “greenwashing.”

Companies that promote greenwashing use trends and activities like eco-friendly and green movements as tools, making their manufactured products appear eco-friendly. They even apply them to their marketing methods so that the consumer thinks it’s the right thing they are doing when they make a purchase. However, in reality, their products are nothing but regular products with names and labels suggesting sustainability and eco-friendly.

To be precise, fake eco-friendly products are present when more money is spent on marketing and advertising, claiming to be “green” than making business decisions that minimize environmental impact.

How does a fake eco-product appear?

You see a product – its packaging is green, there’s leafy imagery, a bunch of cute animals is running in the wild – it all appears so utopic, but it is, in fact, a trap! Greenwashing is making misleading claims about the benefits of a product. 98% of the 2219 products that claim to be green in the United States & Canada have some form of greenwashing.

A classic example is a hotel chain that claims it is “green” because it allows guests to reuse the same sheets and towels but does little to save water and energy throughout its facilities and vehicle fleet.

Another example is the products that companies sell using the term “FREE”, whether it’s the gluten from a range of food products or BPA from plastic wares. Several products and product variants are sold referring to such terms, which ease the way for eco-minded people. However, the product lacks the specifications and ingredients that are used as a substitute.

Eco-friendly or green labels make us feel good, but until there are some regulated criteria, consuming the same regular products makes no sense.

If you have finally thought of switching your regular lifestyle to a sustainable one, you might want to beware of the products, all dressed up with green labels and branding.

Start with reading tips, researching your own, and reaching out to companies asking all your queries regarding your product purchasing behavior, type, and need. The companies that actually desire to set minimal impact will answer all your concerns correctly.