Ten Tips for Spotting a Green Scam

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In an earlier post I mentioned how some companies were perhaps not as green as they claimed to be - I discovered that this is known as 'greenwashing', Here's a quick guide to spotting 'greenwash' when reading company literature or adverts;

Ten Tips for Spotting a Green Scam

Communications company Futerra has compiled an easy guide to spotting greenwash. Here’s what to look out for,

1. Fluffy language
Words or terms with no clear meaning, e.g. "ecofriendly".

2. Green products v dirty company
Such as efficient light bulbs made in a factory which pollutes rivers.

3. Suggestive pictures
Green images that indicate an (unjustified) green impact eg flowers blooming from exhaust pipes.

4. Irrelevant claims
Emphasising one tiny green attribute when everything else is "ungreen".

5. Best in a class?
Declaring you are slightly greener than the rest, even if the rest are pretty terrible.

6. When it's just not credible
"Ecofriendly" cigarettes anyone? "Greening" a dangerous product doesn't make it safe.

7. Gobbledygook
Jargon and information that only a scientist could check or understand.

8. Imaginary friends
A "label" that looks like third party endorsement ... except it is made up by the company itself.

9. No proof
It could be right, but where's the evidence?

10. Outright lying
Totally fabricated claims or data.

Remember - be careful what you accept as fact!