Tag: green

  • Genuinely green

    Genuinely green

    Genuinely green

    Beauty meets environmental stewardship

    Natural. Eco-friendly. Clean.

    It’s easy to believe marketers’ claims about beauty products being sustainable. However, these assertions can be misleading. Here’s how to spot greenwashing and make truly impactful purchases.

    Identifying greenwashing 

    Greenwashing is a marketing tactic that’s growing, yet there’s no single definition. It often involves companies misleading consumers into believing their products are more sustainable than they are. Common examples include claiming polypropylene is recyclable when it’s rarely recycled in practice.

    Other instances of greenwashing

    • Using nature-inspired imagery without making sustainability claims.
    • Highlighting one eco-friendly aspect while ignoring other less sustainable ones.
    • Falsely claiming certifications or mimicking certification graphics.
    • Sharing unsupported statistics or percentages without reliable backing.
    • Using vague terms like “nontoxic,” “green,” or “eco-friendly” without clear definitions.

    Making meaningful efforts
    To identify brands that genuinely practice sustainability, look for honesty and visible actions. For example, some brands are transparent about the trade-offs involved in their choices. A brand might use plastic in its refill program because it’s the best option available, explaining their rationale openly.

    Transparency involves sharing both the benefits and drawbacks of their practices, with an understanding that no solution is perfect. Many brands also donate a portion of profits to environmental causes, tracking their impact through apps that show how much plastic has been recovered or how much land has been protected.

    Other companies demonstrate environmental stewardship, like sourcing ingredients sustainably or supporting fair trade. For instance, some brands hand-pick local botanicals, while others buy plastic waste from waste pickers and recycle it into new packaging.

    A consumer’s game plan 

    To avoid falling for greenwashing, stay informed and skeptical. Words like “transparent” or “clean” shouldn’t be taken at face value. Investigate how brands define and implement these terms. Check if their claims are backed by supporting information or independent certifications.

    It’s also essential to consider the product’s end-of-life. Research whether your local recycling programs accept the packaging or contact experts for guidance. The percentage of recycled content in the packaging is crucial—higher is better. If a container has a grey tinge, it likely contains 100% post-consumer recycled material.

    By Carime Lane

    Article Courtesy of Alive Magazine

  • Plastic Bags: Putting an End to the Bag Monster We’ve Created

    Plastic Bags: Putting an End to the Bag Monster We’ve Created

    Check out this fancy outfit! Slimming, isn’t it?

    But for real, Carolyn is shown here sporting a handmade jacket and hat of retail plastic bags. 500 of them, to be exact! Why is she wearing this? Well, besides to get a laugh out of all of us, she’s wearing it to demonstrate the amount of plastic bag waste ONE PERSON generates in A SINGLE YEAR.

    Imagine 7.6 billion plastic-bag-wearing-Carolyn’s wandering around. (That’s the current number of us inhabiting our Earth.) The amount of waste is almost unfathomable.

    Of course, the moral point here is that we should all be using reusable bags and/or reusing the plastic bags that are already out there.  You already know that. What we all need to be doing at this point is practicing what we preach, spreading the word by creating and sharing impactful messages (like Carolyn’s outfit), and cleaning up our act.

    Here’s some more information to get you further inspired to take action:

    A big ‘thank you’ to our friends at Chico Bag for this eye-catching/opening costume. #ChicoBags supply us with our own custom-branded beautiful Basil Bandwagon reusable bags that fold up nicely and fit in your pocket or purse. Purchase them at both of our locations.

    Or choose one of our classic Canvas bags!