It’s not always easy to tell which products are green, how green they might be, or in what ways they are green. There are no standard, universal definitions for the terms “green,” “environmentally friendly,” or “natural.” However, the FTC has recently created more stringent guidelines to prohibit marketers from making fraudulent environmental claims about their products.
Finding products that have achieved green certifications (from groups that have rigorous standards) can help you separate true green claims from “greenwashing.” So look for eco-labels from legitimate, independent, third-party certifiers (as opposed to industry- or self-administered programs); several third-party certifiers are listed below.
Manufacturers that have had their environmental product claims independently assessed, verified, and certified by a third-party group can feature the corresponding eco-label on their certified products. Be aware that some certifications only verify specific single-attribute claims (e.g., energy efficiency, organic status, recycled-content percentage, indoor air quality/emissions, or biodegradability), while others review multiple attributes related to a certain kind of product (e.g., forest products, paints, cleaning products, etc.). Green attributes can relate to the design, manufacturing, and/or operational (use) impacts of a product, or they can address the full lifecycle impacts of the product: from raw material extraction to end-of-life disposal/recycling/reuse.
Bear in mind, though, that many small companies can’t afford to put their products through a costly certification process, so there are some very-green products that do not have green certification labels. Therefore, it can also be helpful to look carefully at product ingredients and read up on the company’s claims and any outside analysis of those claims. But first, you should have a basic understanding of product stewardship and the criteria and attributes that might make a certain product greener than others of its kind.
Products’ green attributes tend to fall into these four general categories:
- Public / Environmental Health: pollution reduction during a product’s lifecycle (e.g., reduction of toxic inputs and by-products, and reduction of fossil fuel/energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing, etc.); protection of air, water, and soil quality and climate stability
- Individual / Household Health: minimized exposure to toxins/hazards for product users’ health and safety
- Resource Conservation: conservation of natural resources, including water, raw materials (e.g., trees, minerals), land/habitat, soil; reduction of resource extraction, resource use, and waste
- Social Responsibility: supports safe, responsible, and equitable labor practices, local economies, fair trade, human rights, humane treatment of animals, community vitality
[Note: I’ll be adding additional examples of specific product attributes within these categories soon.]
The following are some of the major certifiers of green product claims, as well as some other relevant standards, rating systems, and online assessment tools and resources. This is not an exhaustive list:
General: Multiple-issue / multiple-attribute
Certifiers/Eco-Labels:
- Green Seal
standards and certifications for numerous types of household and institutional products; see list below
- SCS Global Services
numerous types of certifications, including “Environmentally Preferable Product” lifecycle assessment; FSC; FloorScore; FairTrade; specific product claim certifications, e.g., recycled content, etc.
- Cradle to Cradle
comprehensive, multiple-attribute certifications by MBDC
- UL Environment
ECOLOGO lifecycle certifications, as well as Greenguard chemical emissions certifications and single-attribute claim validations
- EPA Design for the Environment (DfE) Safer Product labeling program; and their new Safer Choice label
Other general green product standards and ratings:
- GoodGuide product ratings (website and app)
- Consumers Union’s GreenerChoices.org tests and reports
Issue-specific
Certifications/Eco-Labels:
- Energy Efficiency: ENERGY STAR
- Water Efficiency: WaterSense
- Chemical Emissions (offgassing): Greenguard
- Organic (food, agricultural products): USDA Organic
- Non-GMO: Non GMO Project Verified
- Fair Trade: Fair Trade USA and Fairtrade International
- Animal Welfare / Humanely Raised Farm Animals: Animal Welfare Approved
- Animal Testing (Cruelty Free cosmetics, personal care, and household products): Leaping Bunny
- Salmon / water quality protections (for farms, vineyard, and other developments): Salmon-Safe
Industry- or Product-specific
Certifications/Eco-Labels:
- Green Seal (see logo above) has certifications and standards for numerous types of products (e.g., household/cleaning products, hand soaps and cleaners, institutional cleaning products, personal care products, paints and coatings, printing and writing paper, windows, adhesives, paper towels and napkins and tissues, food packaging; cleaning services, hotels and lodging, and restaurants and food services, etc.)
- Forest Products (wood & paper) Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifications, and Agricultural Products (including coffee) sustainable growing practices certifications: by Rainforest Alliance, or SCS Global Services
- Food and Agriculture: Food Alliance Certified multiple-issue sustainability certification
- Seafood: Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC)
- Electronics: EPEAT registered products (managed by the Green Electronics Council)
- Carpet and Rug Products: CRI Green Label Plus
- Flowers and Potted Plants: Veriflora “Sustainably Grown”
- Vehicles: US EPA SmartWay certified vehicles
- For other ecolabels (in the U.S. and in other countries), see the Ecolabel Index.
There are also green certifications for services. While this post is focused on products, rather than services, here’s one example of a green service certification: the Green Shield Certified certification for pest control companies that use good Integrated Pest Management practices (including avoiding use of the most toxic pesticide products).
Other industry-specific green product standards, assessment tools, directories, and other resources:
- Building Materials: Pharos Project evaluation tool; Declare product ingredients declaration database/label (for Living Building Challenge/Red List Free products); and BEES lifecycle assessment software
- Electronics/Tech: Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (electronics, including solar technologies) and the Sustainable Electronics Initiative
- Clothing/Apparel: Sustainable Apparel Coalition/Higg Index, and the Global Organic Textile Standard, and Greenpeace’s Detox fashion campaign
- EWG (Environmental Working Group) publishes various consumer product guides (on food, cosmetics, sunscreen, cleaning products, etc.)
- Seafood: Seafood Watch (app available)
- Flea and Tick Products (for pets): NRDC’s GreenPaws Product Directory
Also keep in mind that companies that are greener than others (e.g., companies that have greened their internal operations and have active green commitments) are more likely to make and use green products. So also look for products (and services) from companies that have been certified as green:
Benefit Corporations and B Corps: Businesses for the Common Good
Beneficial Businesses: Top B Corps of 2014
- Green Seal certified companies (restaurants, hotels, cleaning companies)
- California Green Business Program (scroll to bottom of the page at this link to see all local jurisdictions)
- Bay Area Green Business Program (several local jurisdictions)
Related posts:
- High-Efficiency, WaterSense Plumbing Fixtures
- ENERGY STAR Products for Homes and Businesses
- Less-Toxic, Low-VOC Paints and Coatings
- Sustainable and Responsible (Organic, Fair Trade) Clothing
- Flea and Tick Treatments that Won’t Poison Your Pets
- Green Goods: Beneficial Products and Gifts
- Health Impacts from Toxic Chemicals and Pollutants
- Green Business, Corporate Social Responsibility
For additional information on green products, see:
- Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things [book], by William McDonough and Michael Braungart
- Greener Choices’ info on eco-labels and certifications
- Good Guide post on “Seals of Goodness”
- FTC green claims guidelines
- Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (for institutional/governmental/organizational procurement policies)
- Responsible Purchasing Network
- Buycott app
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for the reminder. I’ve added a link to this program within the green business certification section near the end of the post.
Great story! Don’t forget the California Green Business Program where businesses meet compliance plus a set of standards that prevent pollution and conserve resources. http://www.greenbusinessca.org
Thanks for the suggestion, Eric. I just added a Declare link to the Building Materials resource item.
Cheers.
I’d love to add the Declare label to your list: http://www.declareproducts.com
It allows manufacturers to clearly show if their product contains red list items or if it is compliant with the Living Building Challenge program.