"How to spot greenwashing and buy actual green products."
Is water in a box really better for the environment? What about sneakers labeled eco-friendly? How about green-accented soap bottles with plant visuals?
These words and images may look environmentally friendly, but they could also stem from a marketing strategy known as greenwashing. The practice occurs when companies sell the idea of “green” products while accomplishing little or nothing for the environment.
There is a growing market for products that minimize damage to the environment, according to Todd Larsen, executive codirector for consumer and corporate engagement at Green America, a nonprofit that certifies environmentally responsible businesses and promotes ethical consumption.
Is water in a box really better for the environment? What about sneakers labeled eco-friendly? How about green-accented soap bottles with plant visuals?
These words and images may look environmentally friendly, but they could also stem from a marketing strategy known as greenwashing. The practice occurs when companies sell the idea of “green” products while accomplishing little or nothing for the environment.
There is a growing market for products that minimize damage to the environment, according to Todd Larsen, executive codirector for consumer and corporate engagement at Green America, a nonprofit that certifies environmentally responsible businesses and promotes ethical consumption.
Forty-six percent of people said they are purchasing more sustainable products to help the environment in a 2024 PricewaterhouseCoopers survey of 20,000 participants across 31 countries and territories.
Purchasing more sustainably is prevalent especially among younger people, Larsen said, leading some companies to engage in deceptive marketing practices that exploit consumer values.
What is greenwashing?
Greenwashing misleads the public to “believe that a company or other entity is doing more to protect the environment than it is,” all while promoting false, distracting solutions to the climate crisis, according to the United Nations.
More Information at:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/07/health/how-to-avoid-greenwashing-wellness