Before You Shop: Legitimate Eco-Friendly Seals

Greenwashing really complicates the lives of people who want to live eco-friendly lives.  How so?  According to Wikipedia, greenwashing "is a form of spin in which green PR or green marketing is deceptively used to promote the perception that a company's policies or products are environmentally friendly."  Often times, services that we use and items that we purchase are not as eco-friendly as they seem.

One way to determine which items and organizations are legitimately Earth-friendly is to look for eco-safe labels.  Let's go over a few you can trust:

 1.  The Energy Star Seal

You're probably familiar with the Energy Star seal.  It's often seen on electronics and appliances, and indicates that the product uses up to 75% less energy than its traditional counterpart.  According to RealSimple.com, the label was created by the Environmental Protection Agency.

2.  The FSC Logo 

Originated by the Forest Stewardship Council, this logo helps shoppers determine which wood and paper products were harvested under certified sustainable standards.  Look for it when shopping for things like furniture and flooring.

3.  The Fair Trade Tag 

The Fair Trade Certified tag confirms which foods (like coffee, chocolate, sugar and fruit) are grown using environmentally friendly practices.  Perhaps more importantly, it also ensures that farmers are receiving a fair price for their products.

Be sure to check out the full list of RealSimple.com's 8 Legitimate Earth-Friendly Seals. Purchasing products with one of these logos is a great way to avoid falling victim to greenwashing scams!