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''I am a current student at Northeasern University and am writing an article for a course this semester. Please do not edit until 12/27/14. Thank you! ''

''I am a current student at Northeasern University and am writing an article for a course this semester. Please do not edit until 12/1/14. Thank you! ''

I AM A STUDENT AT NORTHEASERN UNIVERSITY DOING A WIKIPEDIA PROJECT. THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS SO PLEASE DON'T MESS WITH IT UNTIL 11/29/14. THANK YOU!

Opposition to Greenwash

Include Link The Seven Sins of Greenwashing Home and Family Edition and revise and include the following information to the Wikipedia article: greenwashing:

Opposition to greenwashing

According to The Seven Sins of Greenwashing Home and Family Edition, 95% consumer products claiming to be green were discovered to commit at least one of the “Sins of Greenwashing”. From the study taken in 2010, there was an increase to 4.5% in the presence of “Sin Free” products compared to the 2009 level of 2%. There was also an increase of “green” products by 73% in 2010 to number 4744. The numbers of “green” products in the market were 2739, in 2009. From the recent study, findings point towards changes in consumer behavior. There are more products with legitimate certification which is a sign of consumer awareness towards being a victim. This also shows that firms are realizing the importance of having products that hold claim to their labels. Although greenwashing might seem like it is declining, there are some sins of greenwashing that did not decline as much in previous years. In 2010, The Sin of Hidden Trade off declined only 27.4% compared to the amount of 71.3% in 2009. The Sin of No Proof increased to 70.9% compared to 56.2% levels in 2009. The most important things to consider when purchasing a product is understanding its labels. The Sins of greenwashing include:

The Sin of Hidden Trade off Occurs when a product has an appeal of being sustainable but also has a negative impact. An example of this can be seen when purchasing paper. Paper that has labels containing green attributes such as "recycled" mislead the customer into thinking this paper has a positive social impact. Consumers do not consider the negative attributes of the paper industry such as the use of chemicals involved in the manufacturing process. Some other examples include Insulation products for households, household cleaners, laundry detergents, printers, and ink cartridges. thumbnail Printer Paper w/cause
 * Paper although might have ties to positive externalities, the manufacturing processes and chemicals used are harmful to the environment.

The Sin of No Proof Refers to that some companies may claim green attributes of their product without a reliable source to back up their claim. A good example of a product that uses this form of greenwashing are the Paper towel and napkin manufacturers, as well as facial tissue companies. Many of these companies promote products containing post-consumer material. There are however no authentication to back up their claim.

The Sin of Vagueness implies that the labeling of a product be unclear when supporting its green value. Some examples of labels on products are: all natural, non-toxic, and chemical-free. Since all natural can mean nearly anything it misleads consumers into thinking a product has all the attributes it claims. Non-toxic doesn’t hold any value because anything might be considered toxic to a consumer if they misuse a product. Chemical-free, also doesn’t hold any value because everything is considered to contain chemicals if you analyze it. image An example of vagueness is used by the word “natural”. The loose definition of the term tries to perceive it is unique and doesn’t have harmful ingredients. However natural could mean a variety of things.

The Sin of Worshiping false labels happens when a product has an artificial label claiming its authenticity. In the United States, USDA Organic is an indicator consumers should look supports its Organic value. Some food products will have their own form of certification. Going to the USDA website will inform you of its certification.

The Sin of Irrelevance occurs when a product highlights environmentally friendly initiatives that are unrelated to its current claim. An example seen on products everyday are labels such as No CFC’s, or DDT. Both of these chemicals have been banned in manufacturing practices since the 1980’s and 1960’s. Many products include: pesticides, some aerosols, fertilizer, cleaners and lubricants.

The Sin of Lesser of two evils suggests that a good might have a green relationship within its category, but has an overall negative impact. This can be seen in the Automobile Industry when you see ads for an Eco Friendly SUV. Other Examples include: Organic Cigarettes, and green labeled pesticides and herbicides. Organic cigarettes give the notion that it is a healthier cigarette option; in reality cigarettes cause cancer, gum disease, and other stuff.

The Sin of Fibbing In this circumstance this is when products claim to have green attribute when they actually do not. The Seven sins of greenwashing are supposed to identify products that potentially pose greenwashing upon its consumers. An example of this might be a container that claims to be 100% paper products when there are obvious other materials present. image CVS Brand Paper towels w/ 100% post consumer material This is an example of a paper towel product that claims to use 100% recycled content. It also mentions of not being whitened with chlorine, but just because this chemical is not used does it use similar substitute? also does the packaging include post consumer materials also?

Appropriate Labels There are verifiable third party labels that signify if a food product is organic. Currently the label of USDA Organic is a trustworthy indicator that a product holds to its claim. image USDA Organic Certification Label Wegmans Olive Oil