Green Pulled Over Your Eyes?

We can bring breathtaking change by putting our green living beliefs behind our dollars as consumers. To do this we need to know that what we are buying is truly green. Here is an oh-so-sobering list of words often found of labels. Which words are regulated? Which words aren’t and are open to false claims, called greenwashing? Print out this list of marketing catch words, carry it with you when you shop, and buy true green:

WORDS ON LABELS

Defined and Regulated
Green Seal
Animal Care Certified (eggs)**
Dolphin-safe
Free Farmed (dairy products, eggs, poultry, meat)
Organic — Certified
NutriClean
Transitional (farm)
Green-e (re: energy/power)
Totally Chlorine-Free-Certified
Sustainable Forestry-Certified
Energy Star Rated
Wildcrafted or Wildharvested-Certified

Defined and Unregulated
Biodegradeable
Recyclable
Recycled
Cage Free
GMO Free or GE Free
No Antibiotics Used or Raised Without Antibiotics
Natural (meat and poultry)
CFC Free
Ozone Safe or Ozone Friendly
Recycled
CFC Free (personal-care products)
Low Emissions Vehicles

Undefined and Unregulated
Green
Natural
No Hormones Administered
Pesticide Free, No Pesticide Residue
rBGH Free or rBST Free (dairy)
Clean (re: energy/power)
Green ((re: energy/power)
Renewable (re: energy/power)
Chemical Free
Chlorine Free
No or Low VOCs
Nontoxic
Phosphate Free
Tree Free
Energy Efficient
Refurbished or Remanufactured
Recyclable
Fluoride Free
Recycled
Wildcrafted or Wildharvested -Uncertified
Fuel Efficient
Composite

Attribute
Reclaimed or recovered
Reusable
Used
Solar Powered
Biodiesel
Electric
Fuel Cell Powered
Hybrid
Reclaimed, Recovered or Salvaged

Pending
Free Range, Free Roaming or Pasture Raised (beef, pork)
Grass Fed
No Hormones Administered (beef)
LCD (Appliances, Home Electronics and Lighting)

Alert:
**Beware of “Animal Care Certified.” This label is sponsored by the United Egg Producers, who allow hens to be caged in an area smaller than a sheet of copy paper for their entire lives.

Adapted from It's Easy Being Green, by Crissy Trask (Gibbs Smith, Publisher, 2006). Copyright (c) 2006 by Chrissy Trask. Reprinted by permission of Gibbs Smith, Publisher.
Adapted from It's Easy Being Green, by Crissy Trask (Gibbs Smith, Publisher, 2006).

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Robert O.

11:26AM PST on Dec 7, 2010

Thanks.

send a green star

Bon L.

6:02AM PST on Nov 18, 2010

Thanks for the info.

Philippa P.

6:55PM PDT on Jul 31, 2010

There is no such thing as truth in advertising anymore.

Past Member .

12:03PM PST on Jan 2, 2010

Thank you! Printing a copy for me and one for family member!

Jessica S.

8:35AM PST on Dec 15, 2009

thanks for the post

Dani H.

2:03PM PST on Dec 12, 2009

cool

Sally T.

7:09AM PST on Dec 12, 2009

Wow, that is confusing!!! Thanks!

Jessica M.

6:12PM PDT on May 23, 2009

Thank you.

Chandra T.

10:45AM PDT on May 17, 2009

I hate how tricky the labels are... I wish we has regulated, strict rules when it comes to animal care... I hate how they get you by saying "Cage-free" and things like so that they can get around while still abusing the animals and forcing them to live in such small, disgusting environments.

Jamie L.

12:06AM PDT on May 17, 2009

Thanks for the list Annie... I have to say it's a pretty daunting list... sad and lame that it's so tricky... :(