Are Your Products Greenwashed? What It Is, and How to Tell
Originally published on Annmarie Gianni All Natural Skincare Blog.
Feeling good about your last grocery store trip? You stayed in the natural isles, you made all the organic choices you could, and everything in your shopping cart exudes health with products plastered with images of fresh vegetables, farms, and natural colors.
And yet when it comes down to it, you aren’t feeling the health benefits you thought you would. That often happens with greenwashing.
What is greenwashing?
Greenwashing is the food and beauty industries’ form of brainwashing, and although we’re living with it every day, the concept is something out of a dystopian future. Companies of all sizes use greenwashing to trick consumers through creative branding into believing they are choosing healthier options.
By using specific phrases like “all-natural” or “sustainably produced,” and visuals associated with health and nature, companies give the impression they are more environmentally friendly and healthier than they truly are.
does this scene sound familiar?
It can be as simple as designing a bag of potato chips with a farm scene to imply freshness. Or it can be more convoluted.
Frito-Lay chip company tried to play into the health kick of the last decade, but since their product is inherently unhealthy they resorted to greenwashing. If you compare the Natural Lay’s Potato Chips to the Classic Lays Potato Chips, the “natural” product gives the appearance of being healthier.
don't let earthy packaging fool you
They opted for earth tones on the environmentally-friendly looking packaging and emphasized “natural” on the label. However, the only difference between the two, besides thickness of the chip, is that the natural chips use a different type of oil and salt. There is no difference between the grams of fat and the number of calories.
Different types of oil and salt were enough for a complete rebranding that lead consumers to believe they were making a healthier choice.
is this…allowed?
Unfortunately, yes. The worst part is everything they’re doing is completely legal; it’s up to the consumer to stay informed and do the research when it comes to what they’re buying.
Ways to Identify Greenwashing
Nobody wants to have to do homework before going grocery shopping. There’s a limit to how much work we’re willing to put into our health. But we’re here to simplify the process for you and help you understand what to look for when it comes to greenwashing.
1. Bypass the packaging and read the label.
Don’t be fooled by pictures of fruit, farms or any other faux-branding. There are no regulations on the images a company can use on their packaging. Even though you’re buying a bag of fried potatoes, the image on the packaging of fresh vegetables being pulled from the earth by a burly farmer can easily convince consumers they’re making healthy choice.
beware of branding
Another deceitful trick of greenwashing is using earth tones to connote an all-natural vibe. Since the new era of consumers has shown a clear interest in health, brands have began producing packaging with more greens, browns, and blues, and avoiding bright, flashy, and unnatural colors.
Once again, the visual does not necessarily represent the food. The only way to tell if a food is truly healthy (whatever your definition of healthy may be) is to READ THE LABEL.
2. Look for the seals.
Look for proof that your products are healthy. Products that are actually healthier options will flaunt their certifications, so it shouldn’t be hard to fine. Some trustworthy seals to look for on your products are….
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic certification: USDA certification is a reliable source due to their regulations and rules that govern how a product is made from growth to manufacturing.
Green Seal: Green Seal is an eco-friendly non-profit that develops standards for companies to comply with in order to be labeled environmentally friendly.
Non-GMO Project Verified: The Non-GMO Project is not yet the official certification for identifying non-GMO products, but right now it’s the leading verification. Since genetically modified organisms are a newer concept, there is no official certification yet. The Non-GMO Project is a difficult seal to attain, since it requires absolutely no GMO’s down to the cow, plants, and seeds.
and be cautious, as well…
Be wary of the Tested Green seal. A few years back the U.S. Federal Trade Commision targeted Tested Green when they discovered companies were buying the Tested Green label for $200 to $500.
3. Stop trusting the slogans.
A company cannot claim to be “all-natural” if it is blatantly adding chemicals to its product, but there are many ways for “all-natural” brands to side-step the loose vernacular. Since the FDA doesn’t regulate the term “all-natural” there are no official rules or regulations around the slogan.
Oftentimes companies will use ingredients with compounds derived from plants mixed with synthesized compounds. The only way to truly know if a product is all-natural is by checking the ingredients and researching anything you’re not familiar with.
4. Know what being green really means.
Labels and certifications can refer to a number of different aspects of a product. There is a wide spectrum of practices that goes into food production. Does “sustainably produced” mean a commitment to minimal packaging, farming practices, or efficient manufacturing?
the takeaway? do your research
It’s up to us as consumers to do the research and learn the values of the companies we support. Ask questions about the food you consume and don’t be duped by greenwashing.
Do you keep your eye out for greenwashed products? We're opening up the comments for discussion on greenwashing.