If you are confused when it comes to green building products and the claims that are being made by their manufacturers, you are not the only one. Navigating the complex world behind green products and the claims that they make is not always easy, but it has become necessary in this day and age.
While there is still a lot of work that needs to be done when it comes to establishing reliable standards for green products and the attributes that define them, there is good news: There are a large number of really dedicated people that are working hard on this particular problem, and there are already a large number of resources that are available to help people like you find the right comfort level when using third party verifications of these products and the green product claims that they make. When you understand the complexities behind the selection of green products, and you understand how these products are certified and labeled, then you can better choose the right products.
Ultimately, whether you are getting information about green products from your local supplier, from the manufacturer directly or through surfing on the internet, the most critical thing that you can do is to trust your source and to understand the criteria that stands behind the recommendations that are being made to you.
Greenwash Factor: Greenwashing is what you have when companies make false, exaggerated or misleading claims, whether intentionally or unintentionally. There are some ways to determine whether or not greenwashing is being perpetrated. Is the claim being made obviously false, or is it irrelevant or unrelated to the product at hand? Is the claim so generic that it doesn't make sense, or does it only address a single feature when other features are being ignored? If you cannot verify a claim online, then greenwashing is obviously being perpetrated.
Independence Levels: Who is backing up the green product claims that are being made? First party certifications are made by directly associated parties such as manufacturers, second party certifications are made by outside organizations with financial interests in the product, and third party independence levels are made by unbiased parties. Knowing where the certification is coming from should help you make a better decision, but not enough to make a concrete one.
So what is the best course of action here? There is no single solution to this problem, at least not yet. Trying to select a single green product is just the same as trying to select a non green product. Use the criteria that you have here to evaluate, but create your own criteria as well. If there is not yet a certification process in place for a product you seek, you will have to rely on your own personal greenwash radar in order to filter out improper and unrealistic claims that are thrown at you. The system of independently verified claims for green products will eventually sort itself out.
Photo Credits: sreenisreedharan
Originally posted 2009-07-20 14:16:58. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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