tagged w/ Consumerism
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It seems more and more companies are jumping on the ‘green’ bandwagon these days, touting their products as “eco-friendly” and “all-natural. But did you know the majority of those companies are just making ‘greenwashed’ claims? What is green washing exactly, you ask? ‘The Seven Sins of Greenwashing‘ says: “Green∙wash (grēn’wŏsh’, -wôsh’) – verb: the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.”
The Seven Sins site was created by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing, a science-based marketing firm that performs market research on so-called ‘green’ products in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia in their bi-annual Greenwashing Report. It aims to educate consumers about the deadly sins of greenwashing and how to avoid products committing these sins.
In their research for the 2009 report, TerraChoice found that the greenwashing pandemic has spread: Over 98% of the ‘green’ products committed at least one of the Seven Sins and the total number of ‘green’ products found in stores had increased by an average of 79% since their study in 2007. In fact, the 2009 report even had to add a seventh sin to the list, “The Sin of Worshiping False Labels” because of marketers and manufacturers mimicking third-party environmental certifications on products to get people to buy them.
They also found that making over-the-top green claims were found mainly on kids products (baby products and toys), cosmetics, and cleaning products, TerraChoice states, “because these product categories were found to be the most susceptible to greenwashing and are of particular concern to consumers who want to ensure what they buy is safe for their families and are environmentally responsible.”
So what are the ‘Seven Sins of Greenwashing’ you need to avoid?
(Visit the original post to read more!)It seems more and more companies are jumping on the ‘green’ bandwagon... more
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The super chain Walmart recently announced in a webcast press conference their five year plan to cut 20 million metric tons of their greenhouse gas emissions in to reduce their estimated global carbon footprint growth by 150%. This being the equivalent of the annual emissions of 3.8 million cars.
“Energy efficiency and carbon reduction are central issues in the world today,” said Mike Duke, Walmart president and CEO. “We’ve been working to make a difference in these areas, both in our own footprint and our supply chain. We know that we have an opportunity to do more and the capacity to do more.”
And how do they plan on executing this lofty plan? With help from the Environmental Defense Fund, PricewaterhouseCoopers, ClearCarbon Inc., the Carbon Disclosure Project and the Applied Sustainability Center (ASC) at the University of Arkansas, they will work with their suppliers to rethink how they can make their products more energy efficient, reduce packaging, waste and transport length, etc.
Walmart’s suppliers will not be required to take part in this new plan, but they made it clear that they’re more interested in companies that share their goals. (So it’s pretty much “put out or get out”, right?). Though this has led critics to think that those suppliers will just end up making cheaper, shabbier products in order to cut corners and still stick with Walmart’s requests.
Walmart’s press release states their intended process in this endeavor:
(Read the rest on the original post on CL Green: http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/2010/02/26/walmart-plans-to-cut-150-of-their-estimated-global-carbon-footprint-by-2015/)The super chain Walmart recently announced in a webcast press conference their five... more
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PUT DOWN THAT COOKIE!
That's right.
The 'dirty' little ingredient that is killing orangutans and causing deforestation is found in, but certainly not limited to:
Cookies, biscuits, butter, ice cream, potato chips, energy bars... household cleaning products, cosmetics, personal care products...
It is a never ending list of consumer products that contain one of the MANY forms of the 'palm' plant.
YouTube - Orangutan rescue and rehabilitation project, Borneo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8OkUFwX2o8
VISIT: RAN.ORG "THE PROBLEM WITH PALM" FOR A LIST OF PRODUCTS AND COMPANIES THAT REFUSE TO STOP USING PALM.PUT DOWN THAT COOKIE!
That's right.
The 'dirty' little... more
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Throughout the ages, artists have transformed the most humble objects into veritable works of art that now adorn the walls of the world's most illustrious museums. Can the same be said of "plastic portraits" which strive to shine new light on the very material that has degraded our natural environment?
http://www.greenwala.com/community/blogs/all/4878-Still-Life-With-Post-Consumer-PlasticThroughout the ages, artists have transformed the most humble objects into veritable... more
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I was walking home from Thai Town, and I noticed this poster. Apparently Rockstar, is no longer the most patriotic energy drink...
WTF Army National Guard? Really, Energy Drinks? Why do you keep trying to convince me to join your army?
You persuaded me with Citizen Soldier by 3 Doors Down. It inspired me to sign up. So stop trying to sell me energy drinks, when you know from the application that I’m already loyal to Lil Jon’s CRUNK!!!!
In stark contrast to 3 Doors Down, The White Stripes are not happy their music is being promoted by the military. A Super Bowl ad for the Air Force Reserve used a version of the White Stripes song 'Fell In Love With A Girl' without permission. The White Stripes disapprovingly responded:
"The White Stripes support this nation's military, at home and during times when our country needs and depends on them. We simply don't want to be a cog in the wheel of the current conflict, and hope for a safe and speedy return home for our troops."
Popular music and mind-altering beverages under the guise of patriotism, sounds like dystopian science fiction, but this is the planet we live on.I was walking home from Thai Town, and I noticed this poster. Apparently Rockstar, is... more
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Corporate Social Responsibility News: Consumer Goods Forum's Global Packaging Project; Fonkoze Financial Services Opens for Business in Haiti.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MgwXoBNRuQ#Corporate Social Responsibility News: Consumer Goods Forum's Global Packaging... more
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