Everything comes up green

Those cool new green products may not be as green as you think

Plastic-handled paint brushes were touted as nature-friendly because they were not made of wood. Wood-handled paint brushes were promoted as better for the planet because they were not made of plastic.

An electric chainsaw? Green, because it was not gas-powered. A bug zapper? Ditto, because it was not a poisonous spray. Manufacturers of paint thinners, electrical screwdrivers and interior overhead lights claimed similar bragging rights simply because their plastic or cardboard packaging was recyclable…

“Most of what you see today in the green movement is voodoo marketing,” he added. “If they say their product makes the sky bluer and the grass greener, that’s just not good enough.”

This highlight the need INDEPENDENT (that cannot be stressed enough), accountable and transparent certification scheme taking into account the environmental costs of manufacturing and disposal, so consumers can be educated decisions about how green the products they buy truly are.