Dear Greenius,
The other day I saw a wall calendar for sale with an “Eco Positive” label on it. What does “Eco Positive” mean? And is it a label I can trust?
Signed,
Lost in Labels
Dear Lost,You can be forgiven for being utterly baffled by all the labels ostensibly guiding us toward purchases that will not only save the planet, but also offer hope to orphans and provide kittens and ponies to all.
There is, in fact, more than 350 eco labels worldwide currently being tracked by the Ecolabel Index.
Not surprisingly, many of those are…confusing. Supposedly created to guide consumers toward smarter purchases, in fact, too many were designed by marketers to greenwash. There are, however, a few that stand out in part because they’re among the most ubiquitous but also the most scrutinized and, therefore, legit.
Ronnie Cummins, director of the Organic Consumers Association, is on top of the wave of labels coming consumers’ way. He admits that, while consumers may be a bit confused by labels, they still tell pollsters "the more information the better." Cummins comes clean on the labels we can trust…and those we can label “misleading”:
USDA/Certified Organic: This is a third-party certification that actually has substance. “These products are inspected and monitored by independent third-party certifiers operating under uniform and transparent standards,” explains Cummins. But, for personal care products, buyer beware.
A new certification – OASIS – has been created by the industry and is appears to be legit. However, it allows ingredients that wouldn’t pass muster with the “official” organic standards. A study in spring 2008 sent shockwaves through the industry when it was revealed that some leading self-proclaimed "organic" brands contained carcinogenic chemicals. While most have at least a few individual "certified organic" ingredients, these top-selling brands were not USDA organic certified, thereby allowing the presence of synthetic toxins.
Fair Trade: This is another label you can trust – look for the fair-trade insignia on coffee, chocolate, clothing, toys and more. Fair Trade not only refers to the labor practices. Those who achieve this certification also subscribe to stringent sustainability standards. Fair trade is fair game for consumers. www.transfairusa.org
Shade-grown: A coffee certification offered by the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center and the Rainforest Alliance that indicates the coffee was grown under a rainforest canopy (bird-friendly is another fuzzy certification that falls under this definition. It’s not too clearly defined, though it’s a step in the right direction.)
Cage-free: Generally a certification found on egg cartons, cage-free indicates that while the chickens aren’t caged, they don’t necessarily have any access to the outdoors.
Free-range: Here’s a little lesson regarding fowl play – while hens technically may have occasional access to the outdoors, there’s a hen hierarchy in place that frequently puts a “bully” chicken in charge of the door. This feathered gatekeeper might or more likely might not actually allow other chickens to get outside.
All Natural: According to the USDA, this claim indicates that products are minimally processed and contain no artificial ingredients. Most fresh animal products meet this criteria, regardless of how they’re produced. This claim is not third-party verified. , In the case of cosmetics or personal care products, this “certification” is meaningless.
Made with naturally derived ingredients: Equally meaningless.
Pasture-raised or grass-fed: This label generally refers to cows. The USDA approved a government-backed label for grass-fed beef, which is more nutritious and generally better for the animal. While it’s not too common to see this label referring to chickens, chickens with a diet supplemented by grass (they also need grain-based feed) produce eggs with a higher level of beneficial fats.
Forest Stewardship Council: The FSC certification applies to wood and wood products (such as paper) and is another respected third-party certification, though Ronnie Cummins notes, “there are problems”. www.fsc.org
Marine Stewardship Council: A relatively new certification program that aims to inform consumers which seafoods have been sustainably harvested. There are still some kinks to be worked out, says Cummins, but it’s better than conventional seafoods. www.msc.org
Ancient Forest Friendly: A Canadian certification program that aims to guide consumers toward paper products (books and magazines) that have pledged to print on paper that is not sourced from Canada’s Boreal and temperate rainforests.
Sweat-free: You’ll sometimes find this on clothing and sometimes it’s legit…and other times not. Another way to find sweatshop-free clothing is to look for the UNITE label (for the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees) or for the Fair Trade label.
And finally, Eco Positive? Uhhh…no.
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or visit Leslie Garrett at www.virtuousconsumer.com
written by Leslie Garrett , February 07, 2011
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The Rainforest Alliance Certified seal assures consumers that the product they are purchasing has been grown and harvested using environmentally and socially responsible practices. Farms and forestlands that meet the rigorous, third-party standards of the Sustainable Agriculture Network or the Forest Stewardship Council are awarded the Rainforest Alliance Certified seal. Certified farms or forests conserve biodiversity, prevent deforestation, protect waterways, recycle waste, reduce agrochemical use and provide habitat for wildlife. In addition to the environmental benefits that result from certified farming, workers operate in safe conditions, earn just wages and have access to clean water, medical care, decent housing and education for their children. Farmers often improve their management and business practices, which can increase crop yields and earnings.
written by Anna Clark , February 03, 2011