What Makes a Product Green?

The definition of what makes a product green varies considerably depending on the manufacturer or established standard. Some manufacturers will label their products as green if they contain a high percentage of recycled content. Buyer beware that many recycling centers pay little attention to the recycling symbol and only recycle products that are easy and profitable to recycle. This wasteful practice leaves tons of material destined for landfills.

A product can also be green if it is biobased or made from renewable plant-based materials such as corn starch, sugarcane or soybeans. Ideally, the product will specify how long it takes to break down in commercial composting but some brands fail this test. Products specifically labeled as compostable at least provide a clearer indication of how eco-friendly the product is but one cannot assume the product will breakdown quickly without actually putting it to the test.

At a still higher level are products that pass an independent set of standards such as ASTM D6400. A product that is ASTM D6400 has been certified to comply with specific standards and stands above manufacturer invented standards such as "the Greenlist".

Products are also marketed as green if they utilize less fossil-based materials (like petroleum) in their production. The byproducts left behind after the product degrades should also not be toxic in any way to the environment.

As with any movement, the notion of eco-friendly, biodegradable or green products is an evolving concept that is still being hashed out. What passed for environmentally safe five years ago may now be considered nothing but clever marketing. Until a better consensus is established, consumers must use their own judgment as no standard is perfect and top brands are not necessarily the best choices.