all natural green eco recycled stuff

Greenwashing is the new price chopping. Underhanded, unethical practices meant to increase sales. Walmart has been there, done that when they cut prices so low in the 90s that smaller businesses simply could not keep up. They closed, and Walmart raised its prices.

Now, every company and their brother is determined to get on the green bandwagon. Things they didn't care about 5 years ago (recycling), things people were laughed out of boardrooms for even mentioning (less packaging), these are now things entire departments are dedicated to promoting.

Green product packaging - and I mean the color green, not the make-up of the packaging itself - is a proven way to convince us that whatever is inside is good for the planet. Slap an "all-natural" or "eco-friendly" tag on that and you'll have us salivating for more.

To illustrate:

The Amazing Dryer Ball of infomercial fame

becomes Nellie's Dryer Balls. Same product, same plastic, still made in China.



The fact is, there are no regulatory bodies to approve these claims (such as the ones that monitor and enforce nutritional labels on packaging). Anyone can claim their product is somehow "green," and the worst part is, it takes away from businesses that are actually offering honest eco-friendly products and packaging.

So be careful out there.

Thanks to Andrew Kinnear and his post Green, Leafy, Eco, Enviro, logo design for the great compilation of logos.

ethics just as important as the earth

A new survey by The Body Shop indicates that in spite of the economic climate, ethics are as important as price with today's consumers. I'd have to disagree, given the cars I see streaming out of Walmart every weekend, but I digress...

In Canada the findings revealed that 77% of consumers are making more purchasing choices based on the corporate behaviour and ethics of a company than they were five years ago, and 40% of those polled say that they make those decisions on a weekly basis.

However, 35% said price and value is their criteria for purchase -- aha, the Walmart shoppers!

Shelley Simmons, Director of Brand & Values Initiatives for The Body Shop: "A growing number of people are demanding more from the businesses that produce and sell the goods they buy. Not only do they feel they have the right to a high quality product, they want to know that the company they buy from is transparent and honest about how those goods reach the shelves."

"They want the story behind the product that assures them that the company has treated its suppliers fairly and that it has done its best to take into account its impact on the environment; and that perhaps someone has actually benefited from the manufacture of that product."

"The retail world is going to have to take notice of this powerful group of consumers. If they respond to the expectations of the eco-shopper everyone will benefit: Customers, suppliers, the planet and the businesses themselves. It is a win-win for everyone."

We can only hope the yellow roll-back guy doesn't get to them first.