What Is Greenwashing And How Can We Avoid It?

Did I once think that greenwashing was some sort of sustainable laundry technique? Guilty. Being a kook is taxing stuff.

If you're as unfamiliar with the term 'greenwashing' as I was, you might be thinking it sounds nice, clean and natural...but it's actually the opposite.

Look around when you go grocery shopping. You may notice a tonne of peaceful green colours and words like 'natural', 'sustainable' and 'healthy'. Suss out where you buy your clothes. You might be stoked with all the new initiatives - shoes made of recycled plastics and bins where you can drop off your old clothes. That's all awesome right?

In a lot of cases, not awesome. This could be part of a marketing scam called, you guessed it: greenwashing.

Greenwashing is when a company or organisation spends a hell of a lot of time and money on marketing themselves as "environmentally friendly", but doesn't actually do much to minimise their environmental impact. The list of greenwashing brands could sadly go on and on, from baby diapers to cars, cleaning products to meat and dairy brands. 

In recent years, we've all wanted to reduce our carbon footprint so seeing things like "recycled", "ethical fibers" and "doesn't test on animals" is music to our ears.

But what's going on behind closed doors? How can we sift through all the deceit? How can we tell if a product is actually green or not?! Dw, we've got you.

Take a further glance

Suss out the organisation's claims on their website. If any info seems intentionally vague or broad, there's a good chance that it's greenwashing. 😵‍💫 If you're at the grocery store, something might say it's 'organic', but actually read the ingredients. Are all the ingredients organic or is just one? Look into the certifications. A company can put "natural and organic" on its labels, but if it doesn't have a certification label, it's probably not what it claims to be.

Beware of classic greenwashing words

My spidey senses kick in every time I see words like: eco-friendly, all-natural, earth-friendly, green, non-toxic, plant-derived, pure, raw, healthy, plant-based, organic (without certification). 

Whilst these words all look fab, they mean nothing without actual evidence. If you've taken a further glance like said above and can't find proof...eek.

Reach out

Whether it's your fave clothing store, tanning lotion, coffee brand or literally anything else, don't be afraid to reach out to companies and question them. Ask them what they're doing now that's sustainable. Ask them what their future goals look like.

If a brand isn't as open as, say Auguste The Label, hit them up! 

Just buy less

You don't need a lot of stuff stuff stuff as much as society pushes you to buy buy buy. 

In reality, reducing the amount you buy and reusing what you have is the best way to ensure that you are being sustainable and not buying into company's that are greenwashing. When you are shopping, go with an intention and think before you purchase. Not only will it save you some dosh, but it'll also give mother nature a big ol' hug. 🥰