Go Greener Tips

The hype surrounding bio friendly products is huge and ever increasing, as is the number of green products available in stores. But the sad truth is that most of the latest green gadgets fail in at least one of several ways.

Many eco friendly products are very overpriced. Some manufacturers seem to think that just because their product is eco friendly, consumers are willing to pay what ever they ask for it. In today’s economy, the average consumer can’t afford to spend more money on a product just because it may be good for the environment. This is perfectly reasonable on the part of the consumer, after all, who wants to spend money they don’t have!

A perfect example is reusable shopping bags. At an average price of $1 or more per bag, with most consumers needing 5-10 bags for their trips to the grocery store, this seems like a lot to shell out just for bags. Now, it may be noted that many stores are now charging for plastic “single use” bags, but at around 5 cents per bag, this is a much smaller bullet to bite.

You’re now saying “Hold on! Resuable bags are just that…reusable!” Yes, you’re absolutely right. But most consumers don’t see it that way. They see it as a $10 expense instead of a 50 cent expense.

The mark of great eco friendly products is one that has a LOW UP FRONT COST. Consumers usually have a “here and now” approach, and will be more inclined to purchase an eco friendly product if the price is close enough to the alternative to justify it.

Another sad but true fact is that many products that claim to be eco friendly are just the opposite. When going green, you must look at more than the product itself. Every green gadget is made in one way or another. But does how it’s made outweigh the impact of the product itself? If a product contains 50% recycled material, but is made in a factory that sends massive amounts of carbon dioxide into the air, is it worth it?

Example time. In an article found at worldwatch.org, it’s pointed out that a major Chinese manufacturer of solar panels is at the same time dumping the waste from their factory on the surrounding villages, resulting in the poisoning of both crops and residents. You could argue that this is a result of lackluster environmental concerns in China…but where do you think all those solar panels go? They are purchased by the eco conscious western world, Europe etc. So those of us that preach going green, are contributing to the destruction of another part of the world at the same time.

So, why am I telling you all this? It’s not to discourage consumers from going green. It’s not to scare you into thinking we’re all doomed, no matter what. There ARE truly green products out there, and at a very reasonable price. But you can’t just scoop any old thing with an “eco friendly” label off the shelf and think you’re doing your part. Truly going green means putting in the time and effort to find the right products, at the right price, for your needs. It can be done, but is has to be done right!

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