Greenwashing is term commonly used in the sustainable development community. Terrachoice.com offers a great definition:
Green-wash (green'wash', -wôsh') - verb: the act of misleading consumers regarding the environmental practices of a company or the environmental benefits of a product or service.
So, the question is, how do I know if my _________ really is green?
To answer the question, let's understand what makes a building product "green". The idea here is to evaluate the life-cycle of a product. Basically, where did it come from, how was it made and distributed, how does using it impact my life and what to I do with it when I'm done with it.
Life-Cycle Assessment: The Stages of a Product's Life
Source: BEES 4.0
But, who has the time to do this kind of research on every building product and material they buy? Thankfully, you don't have to. There are myriad organizations that do this research for you.
These organizations are excellent for quickly investigating products and materials:
FSC Certified
The Forest Stewardship Council's certification (FSC certified) indicates that forests are managed and harvested responsibly, with the goal of preserving forests for future generations.
(http://www.fscus.org/)
CRI Green Label and Green Label Plus
The Carpet and Rug Institute's program tests carpet, cushions, and adhesives to help specifiers identify products with very low-VOC emissions.
(www.carpet-rug.org)
ENERGY STAR®
Products that have earned the ENERGY STAR logo have met strict energy-efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy. The program helps businesses and consumers protect the environment by identifying energy-efficient products and practices.
(http://www.energystar.gov/)
GREENGUARD Certification
The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) is an industry-independent, nonprofit organization that establishes acceptable indoor air standards for indoor products, environments, and buildings.
(http://www.greenguard.org/Default.aspx?tabid=12)
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)
SCS provides certification, auditing and testing services, and standards. To date, it has certified office furniture systems, seating, building materials, carpet/rugs, hard-surface flooring, paints, finishes, wood products, and cleaning products, among others.
(www.scscertified.com/ecoproducts/products)
Green Seal Certification
Green Seal certifies products based on a life-cycle approach, ensuring that all significant environmental impacts of a product are considered, from raw materials extraction and manufacturing to use and disposal.
(www.greenseal.org/findaproduct)
If we all start holding manufacturers accountable for their "green" claims, we can be ensured that these claims will be material, not greenwashed marketing ploys.
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Aloha Andrew,
Thanks for the informative blog.
Peace,