With environmental issues reported daily in the news public awareness is at an all time high. Generally there is nothing wrong with that. The problem is when people misuse the green label to promote their products or opinions. Some are downright fraudulent.
In the Feb 26 of Forbes they had an article that outlined all the various schemes that are being promoted to soak people for money. I recently had Jehovah's Witnesses come to my door saying they were doing volunteer work in the neighborhood and asked me if I was concerned about global warming. At first I was intrigued and thought an environmental group was formed in my community. Then when she started reading scripture and said how even scientists agree I couldn't take any more. An interesting blog about marketing I found uses a tag called "Greenwashing". This is an important way to evaluate green marketing and products. I guess were all skeptics to some degree but we should be aware of the difference between trends and making real changes.
2 comments:
People are prepared to pay more for green products and it's not surprising that retail companies are fighting to claim theirs are the greenest. It's also natural that they want to do this minimal impact on their capital or revenue costs - hence 'greenwash'.
It's the government's role to regulate information printed on packaging and ensure retailers do not make false or misleading claims.
http://inbalance.wordpress.com/2007/03/01/current-wave-of-green-branding-will-be-subject-to-increased-scrutiny/
I think it's good that you published this warning. I live in California and there was a big controversy over the "organic" label that resulted in strict government standards governing the use of the word.
It does seem as "green" or "environmentally friendly" are becoming tres chic. I'm even getting unsolicited e-mail (e.g., spam) on the subject! Look what popped into my inbox recently:
"At the year of 2007
energy supply problems are standing for all people.
Prices for oil, gas, coal are getting higher and higher.
The governments of many countries discuss using of the renewed kinds of energy
such as biofuel, energy of the sun and so on. But the issue of saving energy
also is of great importance. Because of it energy conservations is needed
vitaly. One of perspective aims is the technology hydrogen. But Proton Exchange
Membrane is needed in order to improve this technology. It's developing now by
the following company.
AC Energy, Inc is an electrochemical power company pioneering strategic energy
pathways in the milliwatts to kilowatts range. AC Energy is creating
energy solutions designed for all facets of modern life."
What a joke!
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