A label of “green” can make a product more valuable, but this information can also be manipulated by marketers.
Green attributes
A product might qualify as “green” if it…
- Uses salvaged or recycled material
- Utilizes agricultural waste or rapidly renewable materials
- Is extracted and/or manufactured locally
- Uses less material or is exceptionally durable
- Is natural or minimally processed
- Conserves water and other natural resources
- Conserves electricity
- Reduces pollution & waste, avoids toxic emissions
- Contributes to indoor air quality (IAQ)
- Incorporates other environmental quality considerations (e.g. natural light)
- Supports community
- Follows the principles of fair trade
But is it necessarily “green” if it possesses one or more of these attributes? As these aren’t ordered in priority or evenly weighted, the answer could be yes. Of course, different people have different priorities. Also, a product could strongly incorporate one green attribute, and yet be environmentally damaging in other ways. What if the product still performs better environmentally than others on the market?
Photo by tskdesign.
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