Am I Going Green or Just Greenwashing?
Many of us are concerned about both climate change and the seemingly unending amount of waste being created. Did you know, according to The World Bank, high-income countries like the United States are only 16% of the world’s population but make 34% of the world’s waste each year? That’s bananas!
“Going green” isn’t just a trend, but it has become a buzzword lately. Greenwashing is when a company or product pretends to be environmentally-friendly but can’t actually back that up. Oil and gas companies have made big news lately as cities and states begin to take providers to court over their eco-friendly claims.
So how can you tell if the items you buy actually *are* sustainable and not just pretending to be?
If the details leave you begging for more…
If you see a lot of buzz words but little actual info, remember we want that nitty gritty! Products that actually walk the walk will provide details, like an explicit country of origin and not just generic “imported.” Beware any product that lists no info at all about where, how, or by whom products are made!
If the item claims to be organic, but can’t back that up…
By this point, most sustainable manufacturers have certifications for many of the different products they produce. One example is GOTS certification, which is the leading standard for organic textiles. Organic cotton puts less pollutants into the soil and air, plus has a lower overall carbon footprint than traditionally grown cotton.
GOTS certified items we carry include the organic cotton produce bags, which are a solid choice for wrangling loose fruits and vegetables at the store or for storing items like lettuces in your crisper drawer.
It says “natural” but you’re not sure it’s actually from nature…
The word “natural” gets tossed around a lot. We know it means very little when it comes to food labeling, for example. But what about for products we don’t eat? The truth is, you should only see the word when it’s really necessary. Items like the loofah sponges we carry are labeled natural, because they’re made by peeling and knocking the seeds out of a mature squash called a luffa. Some loofahs on the market are made of plastic, but ours come straight from the plant!
When in doubt, shop small! Grows As It Goes is a woman-owned small business. We try to support as many other small businesses as we can. And! Any products marked KACI HEAD are made by hand here in our Denver design studio, like the new market tote that also supports feeding our neighbors!
