“The Beginners Guide to Greenwash”
In this article the author goes through the different ways that companies greenwash their products as well as different ways to spot them.
http://www.sourcewatch.org/images/0/0a/Greenwash_Article.pdf
“A Brief History of Greenwash”
This article goes through out the history of greenwashing, where it started, why it started and why it continues to work.
http://www.corpwatch.org/article.php?id=243
“Corporations Get Engaged to The Environmental Movement”
This is an article about how different companies and corporations get caught up into this environmentally friendly movement and feel the pressure to market their products in “green” ways, in turn having them greenwash their products.
http://www.prwatch.org/prwissues/2001Q3/engaged.html
“Greenwashing Leaving a Stain of Distortion”
This article is specifically about how greenwashing plays a part in the automobile industry. Focuses on how hybrids are making a mark in this economy and environment/
http://www.commondreams.org/views04/0823-11.htm
“Deceptive ‘Greenwashing’ Aims to Trick Ecotourists”
In this article the author talks about how different resorts and hotels are now using greenwashing, and therefore deceiving the tourist that are trying to make an effort to be green even while traveling.
http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2008/05/23/deceptive-greenwashing-aims-to-trick-ecotourists.html
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Weekly Post #5
On the Seven Sins of Greenwashing website I found that another one of the sins was quite interesting, the sin of "Lesser of Two Evils." This means that even though a company may be trying to make claims that their product is eco-friendly, it is still a hazardous product. Just by making something eco-friendly, still donesn't mean that it is a good product. For example, Organic cigarettes, yes that's good that they are organic, but still doesn't take away from the fact that they are still cigarettes that are very harmful for your body and world.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Weekly Post #4
Today I found this great website for those who want to learn more about greenwashing, and all the dirty tricks that are being used such as the sin of the hidden trade off. For example, everyone seems to think that paper is way better for the enviroment and plastic, but actually it isn't due to everything that has to do into creating that paper bag. Making paper produces green house emissions, or the cholrine that goes into bleaching the paper could be equally damaging. See it isn't necessarily the fact that paper is better than plastic just as is, you ahve to think about everything that goes into making that product.
http://sinsofgreenwashing.org/
http://sinsofgreenwashing.org/
10 Sources/Readings
- Josh Richman, Greenwashing On Trial, Mother Jones, February 23, 2001.
- Joshua Karliner, "A Brief History of Greenwash", CorpWatch, March 22, 2001.
- "Greenwash Fact Sheet", CorpWatch, March 22nd, 2001.
- John Stauber, "Flack Attack re: E. Bruce Harrison", PR Watch, Volume 8, No. 3, Third Quarter 2001.
- Andy Rowell, "Corporations "Get Engaged" to the Environmental Movement", PRWatch, Third Quarter, 2001.
- Geoffrey Johnson, "'Greenwashing' Leaves a Stain of Distortion", Los Angeles Times, August 22, 2004.
- Phil Mattera, "Is Big Business Buying Out the Environmental Movement?", Alternet, June 5, 2007.
- Alexandra Bruell, "Media talks 'green'", PR Week, August 16, 2007.
- Phil Mattera, "Is Corporate Greenwashing Headed for a Fall?", AlterNet, February 12, 2008.
- Vince Meserko, "PR Greenwashing and Classroom Whitewashing," Media & the Environment blog, March 25, 2008.
2 Easy Sources For Ya!
1) The Seven Sins of Greenwashing: Interactive website where you can read different reports on products, play games, it focuses on the seven sins:
- Hidden trade off
- No proof
- Vagueness
- Worshiping false labels
- Irrevelance
- The lesser of two evils
- Fibbing
- http://sinsofgreenwashing.org/
http://www.greenwashingindex.com/
Sunday, December 6, 2009
TIMELINE
1666 - The shogun of Japan, noticing the damage created by deforestation, urges his citizens to plant tree seedlings to avoid erosion and flooding.
1739 - In Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin passed a law similar to the Parisian one, removing tanneries and disallowing the dumping of waste in the city.
1863 - The first large-scale, modern environmental laws came in the form of the British Alkali Acts, passed in , to regulate the deleterious air pollution given off by the Leblanc process used to produce soda ash. Environmentalism grew out of the amenity movement, which was a reaction to industrilization, the growth of cities, and worsening air and water polution.
1999 - The Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin - grænt framboð)
2009 - Sustainable Water Certification
1739 - In Philadelphia, Benjamin Franklin passed a law similar to the Parisian one, removing tanneries and disallowing the dumping of waste in the city.
1863 - The first large-scale, modern environmental laws came in the form of the British Alkali Acts, passed in , to regulate the deleterious air pollution given off by the Leblanc process used to produce soda ash. Environmentalism grew out of the amenity movement, which was a reaction to industrilization, the growth of cities, and worsening air and water polution.
1999 - The Left-Green Movement (Vinstrihreyfingin - grænt framboð)
2009 - Sustainable Water Certification
Saturday, December 5, 2009
GLOSSARY
Greenwashing is the practice of companies disingenuously spinning their products and policies as environmentally friendly, such as by presenting cost cuts as reductions in use of resources. It is a deceptive use of green marketing. The term green sheen has similarly been used to describe organizations that attempt to show that they are adopting practices beneficial to the environment.
Astroturfing is an English-language euphemism referring to political, advertising, or PR campaigns that are formally planned by an organization, but designed to mask its origins to create the impression of being spontaneous, popular "grass roots" behavior. The term refers to Astroturf, a brand of synthetic carpeting designed to look like natural grass.
Media Consolidation refers to the degree to which media ownership is concentrated.
Local washing is when large corperartions disguise their business as "Local" in hopes to attract local customers.
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited.
Astroturfing is an English-language euphemism referring to political, advertising, or PR campaigns that are formally planned by an organization, but designed to mask its origins to create the impression of being spontaneous, popular "grass roots" behavior. The term refers to Astroturf, a brand of synthetic carpeting designed to look like natural grass.
Media Consolidation refers to the degree to which media ownership is concentrated.
Local washing is when large corperartions disguise their business as "Local" in hopes to attract local customers.
A ghostwriter is a professional writer who is paid to write books, articles, stories, reports, or other texts that are officially credited.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Weekly Post #3 Product Ratings
It can be quite difficult when it comes to finding a quality product these days that is what it actually says what is it is, especially when you have to take the green washing factor into account. There are a few things that I would personally suggest to look for when trying to find a quality, honest product.
1) If organic, look for the 100% Organic seal
2) Look for a phone number on product from the company
3) Check for an address for contact information
4) Check ingredients
5) Pay attention, and don’t be fooled by phrases such as, “Green!” “Eco-Friendly” and see if they even list what is really in the product
I would use these five criterion, because the most important thing is to find out what is exactly in the product and not just getting fooled by the outward appearance.
1) GreenWorks* Cleaning products: 5
2) Kirkland Signature* dish detergent: 2
3) Hybrid vehicles: 3
1) If organic, look for the 100% Organic seal
2) Look for a phone number on product from the company
3) Check for an address for contact information
4) Check ingredients
5) Pay attention, and don’t be fooled by phrases such as, “Green!” “Eco-Friendly” and see if they even list what is really in the product
I would use these five criterion, because the most important thing is to find out what is exactly in the product and not just getting fooled by the outward appearance.
1) GreenWorks* Cleaning products: 5
2) Kirkland Signature* dish detergent: 2
3) Hybrid vehicles: 3
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Local Washing
Local washing is a new concept that more and more businesses are capitalizing on. It has become apparent that people are more likely to buy locally because they feel that they are supporting their local economy, in return building a better environment for them to live in. Local washing is when businesses are large corporations are using the word “local” as a marketing ploy, similar to what I talked about last week about green washing. When people see the word “LOCAL” posted up in their grocery store, it is appealing in the same way that we are attracted to the word “GREEN”. Local washing is going beyond just the supermarkets though; Starbucks and Barnes & Noble have both capitalized on local washing. Starbucks de-branded three of their stores in Seattle recently and renamed them as “15th Ave Coffee and Tea” emphasizing that they were locally owned and operated, in reality still being owned by the worlds largest coffee companies.
Is it really all that bad? I’ve asked myself this question over and over again, and honestly I really don’t see the harm in it. Yes, it is deceitful promoting local companies, when in actuality they are owned by large corporations. But they are still technically local if they are in your town. If Wal Mart wants to start carrying locally grown produce and post up “Local” signs all around, then I think there is no problem with that. I think that it definitely is better to buy locally, whether that means shopping from stores that are born and raised in your town, or if it’s just that you purchase you food at our local Fred Meyer, rather than going to Yakima’s Fred Meyer. On the flip side, sometimes buying locally doesn’t matter when a it’s already owned by a large corporation. Chain restaurants and stores could be flourishing locally, but if in the bigger picture they aren’t doing to well finically, they will shut down.
For a personal example, I live in the Tri-Cities and the poor economy really hasn’t affected business or real estate because our community mainly consists of middle to upper class America. Furthermore, my brother-in-law Michael has had this dream of opening a restaurant called “Wingers” in the Tri-Cities. They got all the funds, negotiated land, followed all the steps necessary to open the restaurant and right when they were about to start building, Wingers’s corporate called Michael tell him they weren’t going to be able to follow through, because of the economy. Well this would be understandable except for that the economy in the Tri-Cites was still thriving and the truth is that a wing house would of done great. But still was put on hold because of the finical situation that Wingers’s was in as a whole. Therefore, you can see that sometimes buying locally when that business is owned by a larger corporation won’t make any difference.
So it's not easy to judge. What do you think? Is local washing a horrible marketing ploy drived by us greedy American's, or is it just another way to promote local shopping?
Is it really all that bad? I’ve asked myself this question over and over again, and honestly I really don’t see the harm in it. Yes, it is deceitful promoting local companies, when in actuality they are owned by large corporations. But they are still technically local if they are in your town. If Wal Mart wants to start carrying locally grown produce and post up “Local” signs all around, then I think there is no problem with that. I think that it definitely is better to buy locally, whether that means shopping from stores that are born and raised in your town, or if it’s just that you purchase you food at our local Fred Meyer, rather than going to Yakima’s Fred Meyer. On the flip side, sometimes buying locally doesn’t matter when a it’s already owned by a large corporation. Chain restaurants and stores could be flourishing locally, but if in the bigger picture they aren’t doing to well finically, they will shut down.
For a personal example, I live in the Tri-Cities and the poor economy really hasn’t affected business or real estate because our community mainly consists of middle to upper class America. Furthermore, my brother-in-law Michael has had this dream of opening a restaurant called “Wingers” in the Tri-Cities. They got all the funds, negotiated land, followed all the steps necessary to open the restaurant and right when they were about to start building, Wingers’s corporate called Michael tell him they weren’t going to be able to follow through, because of the economy. Well this would be understandable except for that the economy in the Tri-Cites was still thriving and the truth is that a wing house would of done great. But still was put on hold because of the finical situation that Wingers’s was in as a whole. Therefore, you can see that sometimes buying locally when that business is owned by a larger corporation won’t make any difference.
So it's not easy to judge. What do you think? Is local washing a horrible marketing ploy drived by us greedy American's, or is it just another way to promote local shopping?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
GREEN WASHING
When I first heard of green washing, I have to be honest I had no idea what it meant. But after doing some research and reading up on the topic, I found that green washing is when more money, manual labor and/or time is being spent into promoting and advertising “going green” and being eco-friendly, rather than actually being green. This occurs a lot when businesses want to promote new eco-friendly products or services. They get so caught up in getting the word out that they are being green, rather than actually doing something good for the environment. For example, if a car company is promoting a new eco-friendly vehicle they will probably end up putting more efforts into the advertising, which will out weigh the benefits of having an eco friendly car. Advertising will counteract the primary reason for having a green car.
It is kind of a wild concept, and something that you don’t think of that often. But if you do take time to think about it makes sense. It’s kind of bogus though, I mean what’s the point in using so much brain power and resources to come up with these new, great, green ideals to help our earth, if we’re just going to ruin it by being greedy…?
It is kind of a wild concept, and something that you don’t think of that often. But if you do take time to think about it makes sense. It’s kind of bogus though, I mean what’s the point in using so much brain power and resources to come up with these new, great, green ideals to help our earth, if we’re just going to ruin it by being greedy…?
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Opinion or Fact?
1) An opinion is a thought or idea that anyone can have and voice as they feel necessary. Everyone is entitled to their own personal opinion and cannot be considered "wrong." A Fact is something that has been tested as a theory and has been proven to be right. No one can argue or disagree with facts, they just ahve to be accepted. Yes I believe that all opinions are valid. If we didn't listen, or honor other people's opinions we would be denying our ability to be better. Facts have a huge part in the way consumers make decisions. People are going to to their research to find the best products for them, and are going to trust what is beeing printed about the certain product. Opinions play a big part in what a consumer purchases also. People have their opinions on just about everything, and one person may have something against a certain company so they won't buy any of their products, although that company may still have the best all around product.
2) Autonomy and everyone having the right to the resources to the products they see necessary to their health goes hand in hand. Autonomy is having respect for others, and a part of showing respect for others is being honest and letting people into information essential to their health. Everyone wants to be healthy and they should have the right to know what products and services are available to them.
Beneficence is doing good to to others. as Public Health professionals are job is to help others and provde them with the toold necessary to make their own decisions when it comes to their health. I think that the majority of the health care professionals don't think that a free market is the best way to go, because the government needs to be involved one way or the other mainly for regulation purposes. Their has to be a standard set for products and services to give them credibility. These creditials are set by the FDA with the government behind them.
The third duty of Public Health professionals is to represent and stand for justice. This means standing up for what is right, and supplying the information necessary for consumers to make their own judgements. I there is going to be justice in the public health care system you can't just count on supply and demand to keep everything running smoothly. Like I said before, standards have to be set and met for things to work and this is a part of being just. You have to be honest and have integrity and this is the job of public health prfessionals.
3) Well when it comes to Twitter, radio, television and other media sources you mainly see the free market perspective and not so much of our publich health ethics. One engines like Twitter, it is all about personal experience and their own opinion and nothing more. Consumers are tweeting what they want to say, and they don't ahve to answer to anyone but themselves. Radio and television is a little more complicated because this in when media consolidation comes in. All radio sations and television channels are owned by large corporations. Therefore the opinions of the large corporations are going to reflect on that certain program or show. You see this alot in the products, services and people that certain sations will advertise. For example, a conservative television channel will run more ads for a republican canidate, rather than a liberal canidate. This can occur in your local news as well, certain storied will run while others won't some will be made to look more "shinny" than others and so on...Essentially if ou think about it, our news it rigged. The media is more concerned with making the money than telling the truth about products, therefore often overlooking obscuritives in order to get a bigger check. This is not the way of the ethics of the public health professionals. We want to inform consumers the truth, with disregards about the money matter.
The general public deserves and needs to know the truth about health care serivces and products. If they don't then many people are going to buy into scams and end up hurting themselves in the long run. I think that consumers need to take some initative and research products for themselves, yet if a product claims to be "Organic" it better actually be organic. Their has to be govern,ment regulation. Barriers from the public actually knowing the truth is shadowed by media consolidation. There has become a major issue with people who are money hungry and not getting the truth out because they are greedy. This is when we come in to take a stand for the general public and their health. After all, your health is your true wealth.
2) Autonomy and everyone having the right to the resources to the products they see necessary to their health goes hand in hand. Autonomy is having respect for others, and a part of showing respect for others is being honest and letting people into information essential to their health. Everyone wants to be healthy and they should have the right to know what products and services are available to them.
Beneficence is doing good to to others. as Public Health professionals are job is to help others and provde them with the toold necessary to make their own decisions when it comes to their health. I think that the majority of the health care professionals don't think that a free market is the best way to go, because the government needs to be involved one way or the other mainly for regulation purposes. Their has to be a standard set for products and services to give them credibility. These creditials are set by the FDA with the government behind them.
The third duty of Public Health professionals is to represent and stand for justice. This means standing up for what is right, and supplying the information necessary for consumers to make their own judgements. I there is going to be justice in the public health care system you can't just count on supply and demand to keep everything running smoothly. Like I said before, standards have to be set and met for things to work and this is a part of being just. You have to be honest and have integrity and this is the job of public health prfessionals.
3) Well when it comes to Twitter, radio, television and other media sources you mainly see the free market perspective and not so much of our publich health ethics. One engines like Twitter, it is all about personal experience and their own opinion and nothing more. Consumers are tweeting what they want to say, and they don't ahve to answer to anyone but themselves. Radio and television is a little more complicated because this in when media consolidation comes in. All radio sations and television channels are owned by large corporations. Therefore the opinions of the large corporations are going to reflect on that certain program or show. You see this alot in the products, services and people that certain sations will advertise. For example, a conservative television channel will run more ads for a republican canidate, rather than a liberal canidate. This can occur in your local news as well, certain storied will run while others won't some will be made to look more "shinny" than others and so on...Essentially if ou think about it, our news it rigged. The media is more concerned with making the money than telling the truth about products, therefore often overlooking obscuritives in order to get a bigger check. This is not the way of the ethics of the public health professionals. We want to inform consumers the truth, with disregards about the money matter.
The general public deserves and needs to know the truth about health care serivces and products. If they don't then many people are going to buy into scams and end up hurting themselves in the long run. I think that consumers need to take some initative and research products for themselves, yet if a product claims to be "Organic" it better actually be organic. Their has to be govern,ment regulation. Barriers from the public actually knowing the truth is shadowed by media consolidation. There has become a major issue with people who are money hungry and not getting the truth out because they are greedy. This is when we come in to take a stand for the general public and their health. After all, your health is your true wealth.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
