Darnall states that even though the government isn’t keeping pace with product marketing guidelines enforcement, the Environmental Protection Agency has.Put out a list They selected eco labels that they felt met certain sustainability standards. It is not comprehensive and they prefer their own labels. Energy Star And Water Sense She said.
It’s a good guideline. If the goal was to shift consumption decisions whether it’s consumers at cash registers or individuals who want to invest in green companies, then they’re less likely than others to have reliable information. It really penalizes companies. These are Blazing trails These are advancing sustainability.”
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Other lists offer consumers multiple ways for them to verify claims about sustainable products. Morningstar Investment firm, for instance, went through all its companies that claimed to be ESG-forward. This is a way of evaluating responsible practices. Environmental and social governance .
They It ended up Greenwashing misinformation led to the de-listing of 1,200 funds, or about 20%, of their total.
Darnall said that the more players in this space that are critical and monitoring how companies market themselves, the better. Although it is not the perfect solution, it will help.
Consumers can also do a bit ofdigging on their own to assess, to some degree, the likelihood that products advertised as environmentally-friendly actually are. Darnall states that the best eco labels are those sponsored by non-profits. Next are those that are backed by government agencies. Because of their low expectations for environmental performance and reliability, the most reliable are those created by industry.
This is not true for all companies. However, capitalism’s rules suggest that consumers can vote with their dollars for more transparency in sustainability fact checking. This may bring more clarity to the situation.
It is important not to get carried away by the enthusiasm for companies that sweep their practices under the rug. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has just released their latest report. It stated that there are two main actions needed to curb the impacts.
The IPCC Report: Climate experts believe the world is at “a crossroads”, but offer hope with concrete actions
Darnall believes the greenwashing flood is also distracting from important discussions about how we can reinvent the food system while respecting the personal choices of those who eat.
Darnall stated that he feels that the conversation is still full with many distractions. We must think about what we eat if we want to make fundamental changes. There are many factors that make processed food extremely energy- and water-intensive and costly for the environment.
Rule of thumb (green)
If you are trying to navigate through a sea filled with fake-green products, this may be a good rule:
It might feel like a climate solutions gimmick.
For decades, the top climate scientists around the world have repeated the same message: We need to reduce emissions and transition to renewable energies. Every few years, a new report of 3,000 pages explains it in greater detail. But the overall message is the same.
More: The power of sun, people, and politics. All 3 are essential for the climate.
Innovation is important, but actual solutions to climate change will not be delivered to your inbox like a Nigerian prince with a life-changing offer. Consistent, conscious, comprehensive change is what will make real progress. This is just like the real life hacks that we all know, even if they aren’t always implemented.
However, the chance to reduce warming is only once in a lifetime, as the Nigerian princes claim. It is up to us to seize it.
You can save money and the earth by making conscious lunch choices. Also, you can unplug any appliances in your house while you’re out and tell your family and friends why you like them.
Email me if you have an interesting personal story about trying to be a better green spender than a product. Enjoy theEarth every Friday, and every day.
Joan Meiners, Climate News andStorytelling Reporter for The Arizona Republic and Azcentral. She earned her Ph.D. in Ecology before becoming a journalist. Follow Joanon Twitter @beecycles or email her at joan.meiners@arizonarepublic.com.
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