A Greenwashing Checklist: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Buy

Greenwashing is like putting a fancy eco-friendly mask on a product or company to make it look super green and earth-friendly, even when it might not be. It's a bit like a wolf dressing up as a sheep to blend in with the flock, or like the Wizard of Oz hiding behind a smokescreen of marketing words.

So, when a company or product is accused of greenwashing, it means they're making themselves seem way more environmentally friendly than they are, often to attract environmentally conscious customers.

Consumers need to peek behind the green curtain and make sure the eco-friendly claims are the real deal.

We must CHOOSE WISELY when we buy since the way we spend our money is arguably the single most political act most of us carry out every day.  The things we buy are like casting a vote for the kind of future we choose for our children.

Here are 10 questions to ask before you click “buy now” or hand over your hard-earned money.

What materials is it predominantly made of?

Are the materials 100% natural and grown with as few chemicals as possible? 

Cotton is a good example of greenwashing.  No, it doesn’t leach microplastics into the environment (unless it’s blended with synthetic materials) but it is often a GMO crop, meaning high levels of environmental toxins and damage to ecosystems. Ask about what kind of cotton - organic cotton is always best. 

Although bamboo grows naturally and fast without chemicals in its natural forest setting, Chinese plantation bamboo grown in depleted soils may not actually be chemical-free at all.

Is the product’s packaging sustainable?

Did it arrive packed in plastic bubble wrap or shredded recycled paper? Is the product well packed in paper, or is it in a laminated box that renders it unrecyclable? 

Pro-tip: The very shiny laminate coating on the “eco box” is 99% likely to be plastic!

Can the company provide transparent information about its supply chain?

If the company didn’t personally make the product themselves, then who did?  What are THEIR environmental standards?  Did your pretty bamboo toothbrush or reusable bamboo straw come from a factory in China, or was it locally hand-crafted? 

If the disclosure about the origins of the product isn’t evident, you need to ask!  Where exactly did the raw materials grow?

What about the “extras” in the product?

Laminated wood and bamboo products are sometimes made with highly toxic glues.

It’s OK to ask more about this part of the process so you can decide if it’s actually safe to put in your mouth. There are no licenses or industry standards to control many of these sorts of items.

What exactly are they made of?  What about things like lacquer on basket products?

Traditional Chinese and Thai lacquerware uses natural resin finishes (which makes it expensive), but most of the copy-cat cheaper stuff uses some seriously questionable finishes!

How durable is the product?

Products designed to last longer contribute less to waste and save money too.

Are there any known environmental or social controversies associated with the company or the material used?

It’s not hard to do a quick search on “negative environmental impact of ….”

Asking that simple question about bamboo fabric turned up this interesting article by zerowasteman. Yes, it turns out, a lot of bamboo fabric uses hideous amounts of both water and chemicals to turn what is fundamentally a hard, rough wood product into a smooth, soft textile.  And it’s often blended with synthetics. Due to the extensive use of chemicals, bamboo loses its properties of being antibacterial and UV resistant, making it less durable.

How exactly does the company dispose of those production chemicals safely?

Unless you’re sure about the chemical-free provenance of the bamboo itself and the process, it’s often a far better choice to opt for organic cotton or hemp.

What ongoing harm does the product cause?

Recycled plastic SEEMS like a good idea.

But if you’re continuing to contribute nano plastic eco waste down the drain every time you wash your recycled plastic item, is that really environmentally friendly?  Perhaps a glass or ceramic item might be better.  And speaking of ceramic, is your ceramic item made with glazes containing lead, cadmium or other toxic heavy metals that poison our waterways?

We love Lead Safe Mama for her tireless work against lead poisoning and the disclosure of lead in commercial products.  If you’re into repurposing old ceramics, for instance, in your bid to use less and make a better natural impact, she has some truly shocking content on her website about common ceramic brands which leach neuro-toxic lead into the environment - and your body! - every time you use them.

Personally, we LOVE Thai celadon ware, which uses a natural glaze made from iron oxides and gives it that distinctive, natural jade green colour.

Should you really buy those second-hand synthetic yoga clothes, which leach nano plastics into the washing water daily? Or should you choose more durable, more traditional, and less harmful organic cotton yoga clothes?

Does the company actively engage in other environmental initiatives beyond its own bottom line?

Does your sustainable chocolate brand help support impoverished farmers by donating cacao trees and teaching sustainable growing practices?  Does your organic coffee brand help in reforestation?

These are great questions to be asking!

Are there any independent reviews or testimonials about the product's sustainability?

Lots of businesses make all sorts of claims, but have they been independently verified?

Do I really need it?

Ultimately, this is the best question! There’s nothing sustainable about buying things that you don’t need and that you won’t use fully or well for the lifespan of their existence.

Do your reading and your research and ASK.  Feel free to ASK for pictures of where the raw materials grow, or of the address for the factory that actually makes it.

In an IG world of AI-assisted smoke and green mirrors, it has never been more important to do our own homework in order to use our spending dollars wisely.

Our future — and Mother Earth’s — literally does depend on it!