
The green purchasing movement is fraught with peril from all directions. Greenwashing ("This product contains 1% recycled content! Conscientious consumer, buy it cause it's Green!"), overjustification ("I drive a hybrid, so I'm saving the planet!"), saturation from the media ("Al Gore, Al Gore, Al Gore, Al Gore!"), trendiness ("See our "Green" section in our magazine!") But the most pervasive, the most damaging issue is hypercriticism. Anything that claims to be "green" is then inspected under a microscope, and criticised for the least failing. People refusing to use CF bulbs because they contain mercury, even though the environmental impact of that mercury is far, far less than the impact of the power generation required to power one traditional lightbulb. Or studies such as this one, that gleefully point out any issues found with products that claim environmental friendliness, while neglecting to point out the comparative environmental hostility of mainstream products. And it's feeding the feeling of hopelessness: That no matter what we do, we are doomed.
Will this study affect sales of products named in the survey? Probably. And it sucks, because even though they have been found to have petrochemicals, these products are still most likely far ahead environmentally than most mainstream products.
The truth really is that making better choices can make a difference. The products I highlight here are ones from companies that, in my assessment, are at least trying to look at the world and their interaction with it differently. By and large, they aren't simply products that are capitalizing on a green movement; they are products from companies that are saying, we want to make products that are different. We want products that are simpler, better for you and for me. Yes, they still have issues. No, they aren't perfect. Consumption, by nature, cannot be perfect. But they're better. And better helps.
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