Ecolabels and Greenwashing

There are many legitimate eco-labels – and there are some that are abused. There is also a great many claims in advertising that are false, which is greenwashing. These sites are a place to begin understanding the overlap between ecodesign and advertising, which can be tricky terrain.

http://www.ecolabelindex.com/
Ecolabel index offers a comprehensive international database of eco labels.

http://www.marc.org/kcrpc/Eco-labels/index.htm
The Kansas City Regional Purchasing Cooperative evaluates five common US Eco-labels.

http://www.energystar.gov/
Energy Star is the most successful eco-label in the US; the criteria to qualify for the label increase every year.

http://www.samsung.com/us/aboutsamsung/sustainability/environment/eco_products/eco_labels.html
SAMSUNG describes nine common international electronic product eco-labels .

http://www.greenerchoices.org/eco-labels/eco-home.cfm?redirect=1
The Consumer Reports Greener Eco-labels page allows you to search for relevant labels by category.

http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2010/09/23/are-there-too-many-eco-labels-and-green-ratings
This article in Greenbiz considers the proliferation of eco-labels.

http://thegreenlifeonline.org/greenwash101.html
The Greenlife gives an excellent overview of the abuse of ecolabels and other types of green-washing.

http://webecoist.com/2009/12/14/greenwashing-so-absurd-its-almost-funny/
Webecoist offers a profusion of obviously absurd environmental claims.

http://www.greenoptions.com/wiki/great-greenwashed-advertising
More greenwash examples can be found at greenoptions.

http://sinsofgreenwashing.org/findings/greenwashing-report-2009/
Terrachoice documents the sometimes overwhelming problem of greenwashing, along with their 2009 greenwashing report. You can also play “name that sin”.