Questions to ask before buying a supposedly "green" product

[Karl]

Questions to ask before buying a supposedly "green" product

By Tom Watson

How many "green" products will it take to stop global warming? If you answered, "as few as possible," you're on the right track. We can't buy our way to a greener world. It takes behavioral change, which often involves buying fewer products, not more. Every product has an environmental cost, from processing to transportation to disposal. That doesn't mean we should spurn all of the thousands of green products now flooding the marketplace. But before you buy a product trumpeted as eco-friendly, ask yourself these questions:

• Is it less wasteful or less toxic than a product you use regularly? Those types of products — such as recycled-content toilet paper, organic food or a front-loading washing machine — are often the most effective at reducing our environmental impact.

• Do you really need it? Sales of "natural" household cleaning products have soared, increasing 26 percent in the past year, according to industry research. But many of those products are superfluous, since cleaning jobs can often be handled with non-toxic ingredients you already have around the house, such as vinegar or baking soda.

• Can you change your lifestyle or habits instead of buying a product? For example, instead of purchasing a hybrid car, perhaps you could take the bus, cycle or walk to work, move closer to your job or join a car-sharing program.

• Will it make a green behavioral change easier? If having a great pair of walking shoes helps you walk more instead of driving, then those shoes make a green contribution, even if they're not made from recycled materials.

Full article: Home & Garden | Questions to ask before buying a supposedly "green" product | Seattle Times Newspaper