For a lot of us, "going green" means implementing sustainable practices and using green products over time, as we start to understand the benefits and differences. Like most things, taking this journey one step at a time is a good way to make the best choices while not getting overwhelmed.
Let's take a look at one of the easiest changes you can make right away: the items you buy everyday at the grocery store. As I mentioned in "
Seven Sins of Greenwashing," vagueness and false labeling can make it more difficult to evaluate products and processes. Below are links to several programs and the labels that will help you begin to recognize quality and health in these product lines.
The EPA's Design for the Environment is intended to help consumers and businesses find cleaning and floor care products that are safer for the environment, perform well and are also cost-effective. They also evaluate manufacturing processes to identify best practices. The DfE logo means a scientific review team has examined each ingredient for potential human and environmental effects based on the most current data available, and determined that the product contains only the least harmful chemicals in their class. You can search their
Products and Partners page to find companies and products that meet the DfE standards.
The mission of the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) is to reduce people's exposure to chemicals and pollutants and improve indoor air quality. They identify thousands of products that have low chemical emissions, from consumable goods like cleaning products and printer inks, to building materials and office equipment. You can search their
Sustainable Product Guide for certified Greenguard products and manufacturers.
Ecologo is an international organization that holds it's partners to strict standards of environmental leadership. Only the top 20% of products available on the market can achieve certification. You can do a
Consumer Search for products and services for thousands of products from soap to car washes to insulation. Like the GREENGUARD program, the EcoLogo certification is part of the UL Global Network.
Green Seal is one of the earliest companies to recognize a need to help consumers find truly green products. Green Seal certification means that companies have demonstrated an ongoing commitment to products and services that meet rigorous criteria for sustainability. Search by category or manufacturer on the
Green Seal website.
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