I recently read an article on the Chicago Tribune website about the multitude of “green initiatives” that many companies are using to capitalize on the fact that the topic is on many peoples minds these days with continuous talks about how the earth is being destroyed and that we need to do all we can to stop the accelerated process of our planet’s decay. Now I have no problem with companies trying to change to be more earth friendly, even if their only reason for doing so is so that people will be more inclined to buy their product.
The problem I have, and which is what the article adresses, is companies who put up the image that they are being envrironmentally friendly, when in fact they are just doing the bare minimum and not actually contributing at all. The problem I have with this is that companies are taking advantage of the fact that even though most if not all people want to help the environment, they really have no idea how to do so. The real way to help the environment would be to educate people on how to do so, but instead they are using the idea of free market capitalism to take advantage of people’s ignorance.
The article gave several tips on how to determine whether a companies’ practices are actually environmentally friendly or whether they are just putting on a show in order to boost sales or ratings. One tip-off for food products was to read the labels on the package. Make sure that the phrases used are specific. The more generic the wording, like “eco-friendly” or “earth-safe”, the more skeptical a perspective buyer should be. Other companies have parts of their web site that outline how they are being environmentally friendly, but readers should have a critical eye. Some companies are completely honest and forthcoming about their dedication to the environment, while others use this as a tool for marketing. If it seems that a company is exaggerating what they have done to change their polluting ways or if, again, the wording is vague, the report is probably misleading or not completely factual.
Many things people can do to reduce their affect on the environment are things that don’t take too much effort or cost too much, such as carpooling or switching to fluorescent light bulbs. This brings me back to my previous point and leaves you with just a few words of advice: the best thing we can do is to get educated about the environment, so GET EDUCATED, learn anything and everything you can, but beware of misinformation and those trying to take advantage of people, but don’t ever be deterred from learning, because that is perhaps the best thing you can do, is learn all you can.
