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Can You Trust Green and
Cruelty-free Labels?
You set out to
purchase a product that you believe is green or cruelty
free. After all, the label on the product you're holding
is sporting an impressive-looking seal - one which
appears to be that of a credible organization. That seal
could be misleading.
One way to be sure the product you're purchasing is
really as green or humane as it claims to be, is to be
certain about the seal on the label. One website you may
find helpful is
greenerchoices.org,
a project of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer
Reports. You can do searches by product, certifier or
category, to determine if a label really does mean
something or if it's a front for greenwashing.
Greenerchoices.org makes socially responsible
shopping easy by providing report cards on various
labels. Their database allows you to search by several
categories, including Animal Welfare, Sustainable
Agriculture and Social Responsibility.
One of the labels they deem trustworthy is that by
Leapingbunny.org.
I often look to purchase toiletries and cosmetics with
this specific label. Several other certifications I'm
familiar with include
Rainforest Alliance Certified,
who approves of the delicious Caribou Coffee I brew at
home;
Fair Trade Certified,
which ensures, among several things, that overseas
workers are guaranteed fair prices.
Far Fetched,
a line of animal themed and inspirational jewelry we
carry, is Fair Trade certified.
Food labels can also
be very confusing. Take eggs, for instance. There are
about a dozen different labels that can be found on egg
cartons, including "free-range" "vegetarian fed" and
"natural." How can you be sure the hen is treated as
well as the label suggests? The Humane Society of the
United States has a helpful guide called
Egg Carton Labels. It defines the different
labels and what each to the welfare of hens. Some of
these may surprise you.
By doing a little bit
of research, you can feel better about the products you
purchase. Don't fall for a label's claim just because it
looks pretty. Admittedly in the past, it was easier for
me to be swayed by these labels. But I've become a much
more conscientious shopper, and hope you will be too.
Happy shopping!
This article is
copyrighted and is the property of PJ Publications and
Gifts LLC. It may not be reproduced without
permission.
Paula Fitzsimmons
paula@pjpublications.com
PJ Publications & Gifts, LLC
P.O. Box 45468
Madison, WI 53744-5468
608-332-7775
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