What does sustainable on a product label mean, and can you be sure your choices are green?
There is no single way of knowing for sure whether a product online is sustainable. Experts reveal what to look for on boxes and websites
One way to be climate-friendly? Shop sustainably. But figuring out which products count as “sustainable” can be hard, especially when buying online.
Third-party non-profit organisations study manufacturers’ and sellers’ practices and offer certifications that are displayed online.
Government programmes in America, such as the US Agriculture Department’s organic certification and the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star efficiency standard, are also often listed. Large e-commerce websites may highlight certifications with special icons, hyperlinks to certification programmes or written descriptions.
This can mean buyers have to do their own homework on what is and is not sustainable. Elwyn Grainger-Jones, who leads a non-profit organisation that certifies product sustainability, said there is not a single clearing house that tracks which certifications are the most credible.
“Therein lies an issue and a challenge,” said Grainger-Jones, chief executive of Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. “What we haven’t seen so far is a third party step in and be the information portal on what a good certification is.”