Labeled Organic, Think Again!

With the growing environmental concerns and the green buzz or craze that is now picking up steam, people are beginning to think organic and demanding such products. However, as in everything, there is now also a very big problem: greenwashing. The term is used when something is labeled organic, ecofriendly, or sustainable when there is very little information backing those claims.

Although with wonderful outcomes, the sale of organic and organic products has to be scrutinized and given a bit of caution. With big marketing many products nowadays are labeled organic and may not have any organic properties in them, and if they do surely a miniscule amount. The two industries which consumers seek out the organic label the most are in the food industry and the apparel industry., being organic cotton, the most sought after fabric. Simply put, the definition of anything organic be it cotton or otherwise, is its growth in the absence of any pesticide and herbicide, and grown plainly with natural resources. Cotton then, grown in this fashion is what should be considered organic. Nevertheless, when you apply color dyes (which happen to be very toxic, and packaged on plastic that is not considered sustainable or reusable, is that considered organic as well and can it be labeled as such.? Given that supply of real organic materials may be difficult at times, it has become a constant issue for companies that pride themselves in selling truly organic products

Given that in the apparel industry there is very little regulation over what is and what is not organic, these issues are left to non-profit organizations such as Green America- a consumers group- to evaluate the organic label.

On the other hand, within the food industry, there is the regulation of the USDA, and although every product that is labeled organic has to go through their certifications, here to the certifications can lend itsself and to to a large degree of interpretation. Given that the department has a loose and very loose definition of what constitutes an organic food product and their standards not to par with a real organic product that in effect labeling as such can be up to whoever sells the product. Some time ago, I was reading an article on this subject, and a line of the article stuck on me. It read: if you can spell the word organic you can label it. So it is my view that when you are seeking out these types of products be sure to ask where did they get the certification s from. However, there are companies like Eco-Logo or Green Seal that actually test and certify grreen practices and products and truly test whether the oganic claim can actually be streesed. Anyone can toot their own horn about being green nowadays but very few can actually claim it and given that the green movement is still relatively new , and consumers are willing to spend more for an organic product, then many not so ethical marketers try to take advantege of the idea. These are questions that as customers become more aware, should keep in mind when reading the label particularly when labeled organic. Consumer Reports Greener Choices Eco-Labels Center has actually established a site to help you see if these labeles are truly organic or not and where did they get their certification. This will help the consumer educate themselves on what they are truly buying.

With the growing environmental concerns and the green buzz or craze that is now picking up steam, people are beginning to think organic and demanding such products. However, as in everything, there is now also a very big problem: greenwashing. The term is used when something is labeled organic, ecofriendly, or sustainable when there is very little information backing those claims.

Although with wonderful outcomes, the sale of organic and organic products has to be scrutinized and given a bit of caution. With big marketing many products nowadays are labeled organic and may not have any organic properties in them, and if they do surely a miniscule amount. The two industries which consumers seek out the organic label the most are in the food industry and the apparel industry., being organic cotton, the most sought after fabric. Simply put, the definition of anything organic be it cotton or otherwise, is its growth in the absence of any pesticide and herbicide, and grown plainly with natural resources. Cotton then, grown in this fashion is what should be considered organic. Nevertheless, when you apply color dyes (which happen to be very toxic, and packaged on plastic that is not considered sustainable or reusable, is that considered organic as well and can it be labeled as such.? Given that supply of real organic materials may be difficult at times, it has become a constant issue for companies that pride themselves in selling truly organic products

Given that in the apparel industry there is very little regulation over what is and what is not organic, these issues are left to non-profit organizations such as Green America- a consumers group- to evaluate the organic label.

On the other hand, within the food industry, there is the regulation of the USDA, and although every product that is labeled organic has to go through their certifications, here to the certifications can lend itsself and to to a large degree of interpretation. Given that the department has a loose and very loose definition of what constitutes an organic food product and their standards not to par with a real organic product that in effect labeling as such can be up to whoever sells the product. Some time ago, I was reading an article on this subject, and a line of the article stuck on me. It read: if you can spell the word organic you can label it. So it is my view that when you are seeking out these types of products be sure to ask where did they get the certification s from. However, there are companies like Eco-Logo or Green Seal that actually test and certify grreen practices and products and truly test whether the oganic claim can actually be streesed. Anyone can toot their own horn about being green nowadays but very few can actually claim it and given that the green movement is still relatively new , and consumers are willing to spend more for an organic product, then many not so ethical marketers try to take advantege of the idea. These are questions that as customers become more aware, should keep in mind when reading the label particularly when labeled organic. Consumer Reports Greener Choices Eco-Labels Center has actually established a site to help you see if these labeles are truly organic or not and where did they get their certification. This will help the consumer educate themselves on what they are truly buying.

With the growing environmental concerns and the green buzz or craze that is now picking up steam, people are beginning to think organic and demanding such products. However, as in everything, there is now also a very big problem: greenwashing. The term is used when something is labeled organic, ecofriendly, or sustainable when there is very little information backing those claims.

Although with wonderful outcomes, the sale of organic and organic products has to be scrutinized and given a bit of caution. With big marketing many products nowadays are labeled organic and may not have any organic properties in them, and if they do surely a miniscule amount. The two industries which consumers seek out the organic label the most are in the food industry and the apparel industry., being organic cotton, the most sought after fabric. Simply put, the definition of anything organic be it cotton or otherwise, is its growth in the absence of any pesticide and herbicide, and grown plainly with natural resources. Cotton then, grown in this fashion is what should be considered organic. Nevertheless, when you apply color dyes (which happen to be very toxic, and packaged on plastic that is not considered sustainable or reusable, is that considered organic as well and can it be labeled as such.? Given that supply of real organic materials may be difficult at times, it has become a constant issue for companies that pride themselves in selling truly organic products

Given that in the apparel industry there is very little regulation over what is and what is not organic, these issues are left to non-profit organizations such as Green America- a consumers group- to evaluate the organic label.

On the other hand, within the food industry, there is the regulation of the USDA, and although every product that is labeled organic has to go through their certifications, here to the certifications can lend itsself and to to a large degree of interpretation. Given that the department has a loose and very loose definition of what constitutes an organic food product and their standards not to par with a real organic product that in effect labeling as such can be up to whoever sells the product. Some time ago, I was reading an article on this subject, and a line of the article stuck on me. It read: if you can spell the word organic you can label it. So it is my view that when you are seeking out these types of products be sure to ask where did they get the certification s from. However, there are companies like Eco-Logo or Green Seal that actually test and certify grreen practices and products and truly test whether the oganic claim can actually be streesed. Anyone can toot their own horn about being green nowadays but very few can actually claim it and given that the green movement is still relatively new , and consumers are willing to spend more for an organic product, then many not so ethical marketers try to take advantege of the idea. These are questions that as customers become more aware, should keep in mind when reading the label particularly when labeled organic. Consumer Reports Greener Choices Eco-Labels Center has actually established a site to help you see if these labeles are truly organic or not and where did they get their certification. This will help the consumer educate themselves on what they are truly buying.

With the growing environmental concerns and the green buzz or craze that is now picking up steam, people are beginning to think organic and demanding such products. However, as in everything, there is now also a very big problem: greenwashing. The term is used when something is labeled organic, ecofriendly, or sustainable when there is very little information backing those claims.

Although with wonderful outcomes, the sale of organic and organic products has to be scrutinized and given a bit of caution. With big marketing many products nowadays are labeled organic and may not have any organic properties in them, and if they do surely a miniscule amount. The two industries which consumers seek out the organic label the most are in the food industry and the apparel industry., being organic cotton, the most sought after fabric. Simply put, the definition of anything organic be it cotton or otherwise, is its growth in the absence of any pesticide and herbicide, and grown plainly with natural resources. Cotton then, grown in this fashion is what should be considered organic. Nevertheless, when you apply color dyes (which happen to be very toxic, and packaged on plastic that is not considered sustainable or reusable, is that considered organic as well and can it be labeled as such.? Given that supply of real organic materials may be difficult at times, it has become a constant issue for companies that pride themselves in selling truly organic products

Given that in the apparel industry there is very little regulation over what is and what is not organic, these issues are left to non-profit organizations such as Green America- a consumers group- to evaluate the organic label.

On the other hand, within the food industry, there is the regulation of the USDA, and although every product that is labeled organic has to go through their certifications, here to the certifications can lend itsself and to to a large degree of interpretation. Given that the department has a loose and very loose definition of what constitutes an organic food product and their standards not to par with a real organic product that in effect labeling as such can be up to whoever sells the product. Some time ago, I was reading an article on this subject, and a line of the article stuck on me. It read: if you can spell the word organic you can label it. So it is my view that when you are seeking out these types of products be sure to ask where did they get the certification s from. However, there are companies like Eco-Logo or Green Seal that actually test and certify grreen practices and products and truly test whether the oganic claim can actually be streesed. Anyone can toot their own horn about being green nowadays but very few can actually claim it and given that the green movement is still relatively new , and consumers are willing to spend more for an organic product, then many not so ethical marketers try to take advantege of the idea. These are questions that as customers become more aware, should keep in mind when reading the label particularly when labeled organic. Consumer Reports Greener Choices Eco-Labels Center has actually established a site to help you see if these labeles are truly organic or not and where did they get their certification. This will help the consumer educate themselves on what they are truly buying.