It seems like every time a new “green” product comes out, there’s a big debate about whether or not it’s actually good for the planet.  Heck, it doesn’t even have to be a product that claims to be green.  I’ve read more than my fair share of discussions about everything from Kindles (no more resource intensive publishing, shipping and retail) to electric cars to the latest green cleaning solution.

We’re flooded with basically endless choices, new green criteria an extension of our existing consumer culture.

How do you know what to buy?  Or what to not buy?  How do you know what’s really helping and what’s greenwashing, or just basically the same thing in a different form.  It’s one thing to advocate being conscious in your consumer decisions.  It’s a completely different thing to start actually doing it.

That’s when the overwhelm starts.

How To Decide?

I don’t know about you, but personally, I don’t think my Kindle is going to save the world by driving the publishing industry to extinction.  An e-book device on every lap comes with other consequences – plastic, heavy metals, synthetic materials, and its own supply and retail chain.  What about upgrades and new features?  What happens when the price gets so low that the hot new thing becomes another quasi-disposable electronic device?  Where do they end up?

Photo CC || http://www.flickr.com/photos/knk/

I just don’t see that as a solution.  And finding an option that meets all those criteria and answers all those questions just isn’t possible.  That’s where priorities come in.

What’s Important To You?

I really think the first step of standing in sovereignty with your decisions comes from deciding what matters to you.  I have a little set of consumer rules that I’m fairly happy with, but I’m happy with them because they fit my priorities.

If I am someone who is deeply passionate about animal rights – there’s something you can work with.  Look for vegan options, products that aren’t tested on animals, and pay close attention to what role the companies you purchase from play in habitat conservation – sourcing through retail as well as product disposal.

If you’re into strengthening regional food systems, local might be far more important to you than organic certification, and connecting directly with the farmer above and beyond that.  You may be more comfortable engaging in the khaki market than shopping at the closest chain grocery store.

See how that works?  Priorities create the foundation for clarity, and help you shield your mind from the blare of “corporate greenness” and the confusion and overwhelm that can come from becoming more aware of how your choices shape the world.

What are your priorities?  In the scheme of your life, what really matters to you?

P.S.  There’s a lot more about how make choices that reflect your priorities in 7 Days of Conscious Living.  Go check it out if you haven’t already!

Related posts:

1. What Are Your Priorities?

Greenwash: the practice of companies disingenuously spinning their products and policies as environmentally friendly, such as by presenting cost cuts as reductions in use of resources.  It is a deceptive use of green PR or green marketing. (Taken from the Wikipedia entry.)

I got a letter in the mail from my mom the other day that included a Mother’s Day card for me to plant.  To plant?  Yes!

Made from 100% recycled paper and printed with soy ink, this card has wildflower seeds embedded in its fibers.  Its final resting place will be my garden next spring.  Except that it won’t be final, because the flowers will become a part of my garden, continuing on indefinitely.

This card made me think about the sponges I bought the other day.  “All natural,” environmentally friendly sponges, made out plant fiber and recycled paper with biodegradable packaging.  I felt silly buying them, because it seemed like I was being had.  And they were more expensive.  But I figured that even if they weren’t all they claimed to be, at least they weren’t wrapped in plastic.

Are You Being Greenwashed?

Maybe.  Sometimes it’s hard to tell.  It can take a bunch of research about companies, their practices, and specific products, which is usually more than I am willing to do for a sponge or a Mother’s Day card.  But it’s important to understand that greenwashing is going on, and that not all “eco-friendly” tips and products are actually all that they are advertised to be.

That being said, I think greenwashing has the potential to help us move towards better standards for our companies and for ourselves.  Wouldn’t it be great if consumer pressure could encourage all companies to “greenwash” their way towards biodegradable and recycled packaging?

A Factoid

If every household in the United States replaced one roll of regular paper towels with 100% recycled paper towels, we’d save 544,000 trees.  That is a lot of trees.  (This factoid courtesy of Intercon Solutions.)

Moving Towards Better Standards

Once again, I seem to be back on the idea that small changes can and do matter, especially when they are embraced by a large amount of people.  Every time you choose to purchase recycled paper towels or “eco-friendly sponges,” that one product makes a tiny difference.  But, more importantly, you send a signal to the company with your purchasing power about your consumer priorities.  And, as strange as it seems, by choosing to purchase greenwashed products, we may actually be nudging companies towards making more meaningful changes in their product lines and practices.

That doesn’t mean that we can just buy recycled paper towels and organic cotton underwear and call it done.  We have too far to go for that to be the case.  But the little changes are important because, when paired with a far-reaching and ambitious vision of the big picture, consumption habits are our first (and most easily utilized) tool as we strive to build a sustainable future.

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