Greenwashing: What is it?

Greenwashing (noun): the practise of marketing a product or a brand as being ‘greener’ or more environmentally-friendly than it really is. ⁠Companies make a product look healthy, ecological and safe, when really its just all a marketing ploy.⁠
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How to avoid greenwashing:
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Buzz-words

Keep an eye out for these ambiguous buzz-words:
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🐝 Eco-friendly = This is very vague. They may have some green practices, but are their suppliers doing the same?⁠
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🐝 Natural = This term isn’t regulated. What does it actually mean?! ⁠
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🐝 Chemical-free = Everything is a chemical, but not all are bad, so check out the ingredient list. If you can’t pronounce it, it’s probably best to avoid it.⁠
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🐝 Biodegradable = These are not always home compostable and they can cause issues if put into the recycling.⁠
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Certification

Look for a certification mark from a recognised, independent third party, specialising in green claims (such as @FairTradeUK, @SoilAssociation, @BCorpUK, @LeapingBunnyProgram). This is, however, tricky for small and newer brands, as the process of getting certified is usually quite expensive.⁠
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Visuals

Don’t be misled by beautiful imagery, or earth-friendly colours on packaging.⁠
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’Sustainable’ lines

Look out for companies that have conscious or sustainable lines: this is effectively admitting that the rest of their products are not!⁠