Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover

"Greenwashing is the practice of making an unsubstantiated or misleading claim about the environmental benefits of a product, service, technology or company practice.

Greenwashing can make a company appear to be more environmentally friendly than it really is. It can also be used to differentiate a company's products or services from its competitors by promising more efficient use of power or by being more cost-effective over time." 

(Get to source by clicking the word Greenwashing)

I stumbled upon a website about greenwashing, and realized that it might be something that not a lot of people are aware of.  As sustainability has become such a buzz word, companies have realized that if they use certain words/colors/marketing schemes, they are likely to increase their profits.  Sadly, this does not mean that they are actually improving their business or products, just that they want more money.  Here are the images I found on a site called One Green Planet:

I cannot make this any bigger. :( I hope that it can be read, if not, I suggest going to the link above.  Definitely worth the extra click. 

I really like this chart.  It shows what to look for and what to avoid when making purchases.  It is a good overview of greenwashing, and how to know if a product is actually a sustainable choice.  

I also have a book called Big Green Purse (the website is also a good source), that has very detailed sections on what the best products are, from cosmetics and cleaning supplies to paint and vehicle options.  I suggest checking it out.  It has proven to be a good reference book to have on my shelf.