A listener
to the December 1st show about Green Home Improvement asked about
the difference between Green and “Greenwashing”. Below, Jason Holstine of Amicus Green
Building Center gives us a quick lesson on not getting faked out.
Looking
out for “Greenwashing” (aka fake green) is important but also can be really
tricky. I’d say the first and easiest method is to judge where you’re sourcing
the product from. The easiest route is to go right to the small green
dedicated stores around the country, such as Amicus Green Building Center in Maryland;
EcoHome Improvement in
Berkeley; Livingreen in the LA area; Originate in Tucson; Common Ground in Durham, NC; Eco-Wise in Austin; and others around the
country. These stores tend to carry products from manufacturers with long and
exclusive histories also dedicated to healthier or environmentally appropriate
missions and problem solving. They can make it personal and talk you through
the products, choices, variables, and considerations to weigh. The big box and
conventional hardware stores have enough problems selling “conventional”
products straight, let alone speaking to the unique (and sometimes deep)
benefits of green products.
Also, you can do your own due diligence by searching manufacturer’s webpages—they should reflect their corporate story, shouldn’t share space with “conventional” materials. They should be transparent—offering details of the certifications and what makes them “green”.
There are a number of certification and labeling programs, each covering a different subject or constituent. Some are legitimate and sincere (and important). Leading labels:
FSC for wood products
Green Seal or Greenguard for offgassing chemicals (or lack thereof)
SCS IAQ (for excellent chemistry that doesn’t pollute air)
Non-GMO Project (primarily for foods, but starting to apply to cleaning and cosmetics)
CRI Green Label Plus (an industry label for carpets and their indoor air quality (IAQ), lack of offgassing. We consider it a minimum requirement, as there are certainly great products that go well beyond its standards
Other labels are greenwashed and watered-down in their own right.
But, one other caveat to a label. Some labels may be good for one aspect of a product but don’t overcome other weaknesses. For example, some quartz-surface countertops have Greenguard b/c they don’t offgas. That’s nice. But it doesn’t overcome the fact that quartz is mined and creates significant environmental and human health concerns from the extraction processes. We think there are other products that are as healthy for IAQ AND our land and water.
Also, you can do your own due diligence by searching manufacturer’s webpages—they should reflect their corporate story, shouldn’t share space with “conventional” materials. They should be transparent—offering details of the certifications and what makes them “green”.
There are a number of certification and labeling programs, each covering a different subject or constituent. Some are legitimate and sincere (and important). Leading labels:
FSC for wood products
Green Seal or Greenguard for offgassing chemicals (or lack thereof)
SCS IAQ (for excellent chemistry that doesn’t pollute air)
Non-GMO Project (primarily for foods, but starting to apply to cleaning and cosmetics)
CRI Green Label Plus (an industry label for carpets and their indoor air quality (IAQ), lack of offgassing. We consider it a minimum requirement, as there are certainly great products that go well beyond its standards
Other labels are greenwashed and watered-down in their own right.
But, one other caveat to a label. Some labels may be good for one aspect of a product but don’t overcome other weaknesses. For example, some quartz-surface countertops have Greenguard b/c they don’t offgas. That’s nice. But it doesn’t overcome the fact that quartz is mined and creates significant environmental and human health concerns from the extraction processes. We think there are other products that are as healthy for IAQ AND our land and water.
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