4 posts tagged “greenwashing”

FLOWER CC

You've got to giggle at this one. Here's the idea: we snag some of the planet's water, divide it up into about 1/4 a human's daily requirement, pour it into a bottle made of one of the most destructive substances: plastic. Then we'll charge a fortune for it. Oh, and here's a bonus! Call it "green". That's bottled-water industry's new thing. Like it?

Poland Spring Water's new bottle is so eco-freindly! According to the ad, it uses 30 percent less plastic, 1/3 smaller label, and it's "easier to crush for recycling"! Faaan-tastic.Fiji and Ozarka are putting out similar nonsense. They may be panicking at the popularity of Sigg bottles and, oh yeah, tap water.

360vodka

And I love this one: Eco-friendly vodka. The idea is that they are using fewer materials so that makes them better; but wait, they've had an Eco-audit! Yeah, by their own company. Unless it's done by a third party, it's not a real audit.

Appropriately enough, though, the audit was done by their "distilling" company. So at least they're admitting that the information has been strained! But it's a recycleable product! (Yeah the ones that the drunk partygoers can remember not to toss into the streams).

Black-brown albatross

Plastic is harmful to sea life and should be avoided unless absolutely needed (in hospitals, for example). Eye of the Albatross is a great book to read if you want to know more about the effects of plastic on island wildlife. Some animals mistake plastic for jellyfish and consume the stuff. It's no more green than an oil company's spill.

^ ^ ~~~~

 "You can't be green and kill something, it's a contradiction".

- Marcia Fowler, New York City Audubon - 

WTF?

Thanks to the coffee industry, for making my job so easy. This was taken from another blogger who smelled a rat when she was drinking her morning java. Earlier I posted about Greenwashing - companies claiming that their Earth-chewing products are "green" when they are truly not. Here is my first example. Notice the claim on the cup - "Roasted Locally". 

Although they aren't making any claims that the coffee is eco-friendly, give me a break. We weren't born yesterday - they are obviously playing to the trend of local = eco-friendly . That label on the cup is clearly a statement of conscientiousness.

So long, birdies!

As the blogger points out, "Roasted Locally"? Um, what do we mean? That a rainforest was razed by slash-and-burn agriculture but it's okay because we shook off the dead birds, harvested the beans and then roasted them in some wretched coffeehouse? Nice.

My favorite part is that the coffee's in a styrofoam cup with plastic lid, certain to be added to the landfill and to sit polluting our oceans or rivers for the next 5,000 or so years.

Blue_throated_toucanet3

If you're interested in a real eco-friendly mug of java, here's what to do:

+ Bring your own mug. Travel mugs are great and you can save tens of thousands of nasty styrofoam containers from going into the landfill.

+  Look for the Shade-grown and Certified Organic label.

+  Look out for Greenwashing and let me know if you see any!  :)

He's worth the effort

Have you ever taken a harbor cruise and seen these wonderful beings hauled out on the rocks? It's not just cute. I get a total sense of peace when I see them.

But now - no more harbor seals? This week BBC reports that harbor seals have begun a frightening population decline in the U.K.

Since 2001, harbor seal numbers have been declining by 10 percent every year in the Orkney Islands area and in many other places. The cause is still a mystery, but disease and illegal hunting of harbor seals is suspected.

What can we each do to make sure our peacebeings are safe?

* Eat less fish. Fishing nets and illegal hunting of seals by fishermen is a huge problem for harbor seals. Of course there may be some sustainable fish food out there, but beware of Greenwashing! (I love saying that)

* Put them oil companies out of business. In grad school we are studying the long-term effects of oil spills and global warming caused by fossil fuels. The Valdez spill alone killed 200 harbor seals. In the near future you will see a post about how the Valdez spill is still affecting marine animals .

* Reduce, reuse, recycle, Reduce! Trash, especially plastic, is harming harbor seals.

And enjoy the harbor seals - a winter walk on the beach is a great way to see them!!!

Flowers

I love when new words are added to our language. Here's my favorite new word:

Greenwashing.

Technically speaking, Greenwashing is when a store or corporation advertises something as eco-friendly when it is really not.  

I also think the term has a broader meaning, like the word "Brainwashing". They try to confuse you. Companies bombard us with these terms without a real explaination of just why their actions are suddenly different than all the other toxic, destructive, Earth-ruining actions they've always practiced.

The timing of this word is perfect. We are getting a new, probably eco-friendly president. But habitat loss is happening faster than ever. What's more, the trend towards sustainable products has created the inevitable buzzwords like "eco-friendly" and "green". Observe the messages of "Made with eco-friendly pine"! or "Check out our selection of Green cleaning products"! Do you ever feel confused when you read these signs? I sure do.

So if you hear Exxon or Walmart showing off their "Sustainable" practices, walk away and mumble the word Greenwashing. Then go out and buy some nice rings from your local craftswoman or visit your favorite local apple orchard. In the meantime I will look for deceptive advertising and I will post it here for our amusement!  ;)