photo credit: Caitlinator

According to a survey from Marcal® Small Steps® and Kiwi Magazine, most moms want to be green but don’t have all the information. Many are misinformed about what really is green, probably a lot in part due to the rampant green washing that many companies do.

The numbers, according to the survey, show that 59 percent of moms consider themselves “very green” or “somewhat green.” Which is great! Unfortunately, the survey also found that 62 percent of moms surveyed mistakenly believe anywhere from 25 to 50 percent or more of all U.S. paper products are made from 100 percent recycled papers. As much as that would be great, the real number is far lower.

“Encouragingly, this survey shows us that respondents’ hearts are in the right place. Eighty seven percent of the surveyed moms said they’d likely purchase environmentally friendly household paper products made from ’100% recycled paper’ on future shopping trips,” said Sarah Smith, Editorial Director of Kiwi Magazine, the parenting magazine focused on growing families the natural and organic way. “However, their intentions and actions don’t always align. As this survey reveals, there’s a misunderstanding among consumers regarding how their paper products are actually made.”

Now, the survey is certainly biased. Marcel, one of the survey sponsors, is also a company that makes paper products from recycled paper. But, they do offer great advice. Read the labels. This goes for more than just food. Look at a company’s green claims, what the fine print really says, and if need be do a little research.

“Brands need to step up to educate consumers about this issue and what their options are for products that deliver on price, performance and the planet,” said MJ Jolda, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Marcal Small Steps. “Our Environmental Label is about helping consumers to easily make environmentally sound purchasing decisions.”

The FTC is planning to come out with an updated set of Green Guides, which are used to combat green washing. The guides will help the agency to enforce environmental marketing laws against unfair and deceptive advertising. Hopefully, stop some of the fake-green marketing ploys that have been used.

For us consumers, I recommend getting a copy of the The Better World Shopping Guide* and keep it on hand. When you are shopping, it is easy to flip through and see which companies really are worth your money. Or be even greener, and get it on the Kindle*.

I believe that the money we spend is like a little vote each day. You are voting for that company to keep doing what they are doing when you purchase. We want to be greener, to be more caring of the environment, and part of that means taking time to research just what yo are voting for. Women make the bulk of the household purchases, that means we hold the bulk of the power.

Of course we’re not all perfect, and never could be. But little improvements add up.

*Amazon links, if you buy one I get a few pennies.

photo credit: crazytales562

I tried half a dozen times to write a post this weekend, and failed every time. Too much to do, and not enough hours in the day, to put the thoughts swirling in my head to actual words. So instead I’m just going to link to all the things that influenced the blog post I wanted to write.

Read, enjoy, come to your own conclusions.

• The gift of decluttering – welcome to my brain
  

  Everything in our country works directly against simplification. We are raised to be consumers, instead of producers.

• Living in Hand-Me-Downs – Huffington Post
  

  What my brother Dan was saying, and what the used clothing stalls and stores and markets echo in their own way, is that spending money is powerful. That is a power I can use mindfully if I choose. Instead of simply wrestling with a set of yes/no purchase decisions, I can explore a broader set of questions: what kinds of cast offs do I want to be scattering across the planet like seeds in the wind? What kind of trends do I want to be setting? Do I treat my stuff like someone else will own it someday? How do I hand things off when I’m done with them?

• Consuming Kids – Disney Princess Recovery
  

• The High Cost of Cheap Fashion – Project Syndicate
  

  But what has been liberating for Western women is a system built literally on the backs of women in the developing world. How do Primark and its competitors in the West’s shopping malls and High Streets keep that cute frock so cheap? By starving and oppressing Bangladeshi, Chinese, Mexican, Haitian, and other women, that’s how.

• Britain’s ‘litter epidemic’ costs almost £1bn every year – Telegraph
  

  Britain is dirtier than ever before as the culture of throwaway consumerism fuels a ‘litter epidemic’ which is costing the country £850 million a year, environmental groups have warned.

In personal, hypocritical news I’ve taken a writing job creating fashion articles for a baby/toddler clothing company. Yes, I am telling you to shop less while writing about the “Must have trends for fall!”. It is an interesting experience of self-arguing trying to process my anti-consumerism ideals with my need to pay the bills on time.