A Guide to Green:

Sorting Through Advertising Claims
As consumers become increasingly conscious of the environmental impact of their purchases, it can be challenging to understand the marketing claims of various products in any significant way. That’s why the Federal Trade Commission offers a fact sheet for consumers on its web site, www.FTC.gov, that attempts to cut through the advertising fog.


Perhaps the chief obstacle to clear and meaningful labeling for environmentally friendly products is the so-called “universal” recycling symbol of three chasing arrows. Some companies use it to indicate that the product or packaging is made from recycled materials, while other companies employ the symbol to demonstrate that the product itself may be recycled. Unless the product and packaging are 100 percent recycled, regulations

mandate that the label says how much is recycled. Regarding what can and cannot be recycled, it’s best to check with your local recycling or solid waste officials to clarify.

Vague or general claims, such as “environmentally friendly” or “eco-safe,” are also not helpful when making purchasing decisions. For one, all products, packaging and services have an environmental impact of one kind or another and to varying degrees. Look for specific information that aids in comparing alternative products and explains the criteria for such a claim.

Some products also bear labels like “degradable.” This can be misleading, because any product will take much longer to degrade in a landfill than it would exposed to air and water. Cleaning products, such as detergents, often display “biodegradable” claims, but most of these products have always degraded in the wastewater system, causing no environmental harm.

Visit the FTC’s Consumer Protection page to learn more about “green” advertising claims.