TIMES RECORD • December 22, 2020
Greenwashing is the practice of marketing products in such a way as to convince consumers that the product is more environmentally friendly than it really is. There are two ways that are most commonly done. One way is the so-called hidden trade-offs. A manufacturer will tout the product as containing “20% post-consumer products” or some such claim. Although that may be true, the rest of the material in the product can be so bad that there is either no gain, or even some net loss in sustainability. The second trick is the use of unsubstantiated claims for a product. Insist on proof of their claims, and be aware of the practice of hidden trade-offs. ~ Harry Hopcroft, Brunswick Recycling and Sustainability Committee