How do we choose sustainable products.. Are environmental certificates always reliable?
How do we choose sustainable products.. Are environmental certificates always reliable?
In recent years, digital markets have witnessed a major boom in the number of products offered under the sustainable slogan, whether it is clothing, household appliances, or evenelectronic devices. However, behind this momentum, the most pressing question remains: What does it actually mean for a product to be “sustainable”? Can the consumer be assured that his purchasing choice does not harm the environment and does not contribute to increasing carbon emissions?
The absence of a unified definition or global stamp that clearly defines the meaning of sustainability makes the answer complex; Social, economic and environmental factors intersect and with varying standards put the consumer facing constant challenges to understand the reality of what he is buying. TheEarth Guards Foundation will address in this article how to choosesustainable products, and what consumers should be aware of to ensure that their purchasing choices truly contribute to a green future that is consistent with development goals. Sustainable.
The absence of a unified definition of sustainability
When browsing any e-commerce website, it is easy for the consumer to find hundreds of products described as “sustainable”, but the challenge lies in the lack of a single body that gives a unified seal proving the validity of this claim. Non-profit institutions, for example, study the practices of companies and manufacturers, and grant certifications that are displayed on products or in their electronic details. However, these certificates differ from one institution to another, and there is no comprehensive international entity that can be considered the final reference in assessing the credibility of these certificates.
This dispersion leaves the consumer facing an arduous task, as he is required to conduct research and verify the authenticity of the certificates, and understand the standards adopted by each granting body. Elwyn Grainger-Jones, CEO of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute, confirms that the fundamental problem lies in the absence of an independent central body that can be the official gateway to environmental certification standards; Which makes the market open to multiple efforts that may confuse the buyer instead of reassuring him.
The danger of the absence of reference appears in the possibility of some companies presenting “self-declared” certificates, which may appear convincing on the surface but do not carry any real scientific value. Purchasing a formal certificate with limited funds may be easier than seriously investing in environmentally friendly manufacturing practices, and here one of the biggest challenges of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is evident; These practices weaken consumer confidence and reduce the effectiveness of the market in pushing companies towards real change.
It should be noted that this chaos does not mean that the road is deadlocked, as there are already government programs in some countries, such as the US Department of Agriculture that grants “organic” certificates, or the US Environmental Protection Agency that adopts the Energy Star standard for energy efficiency. The presence of such official certificates contributes to raising the level of trust, but it remains geographically limited and insufficient to keep pace with e-commerce that transcends national borders.
E-commerce between emissions and efficiency
E-commerce is often viewed as an additional source of pollution due to the heavy reliance on packaging and shipping, but scientific studies, such as those published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, indicate that the situation is more complex than that. In some cases, shopping online can be less harmful than going to a physical store, especially if slower, more efficient shipping options are chosen or if the alternative store is farther away from where you live.
However, this result is not absolute; It depends on a set of variables that start from the electronic platform used, through the required shipping speed, all the way to the buyer’s location itself in relation to traditional stores. For example, choosing fast shipping often increases emissions because delivery companies rely on individual trips rather than consolidating orders, while choosing slow, consolidated shipping may significantly reduce emissions.
What is the concept of sustainability?
This discrepancy reflects the fact that the concept of sustainability is not a simple issue that can be resolved with a sticker or slogan, but rather it is a combination of policies, choices and individual behaviors, and if the consumer wants to contribute to achieving the goals of sustainable development, he must be aware of the impact of every decision he makes, from the speed of shipping to the type of product to the place of its manufacture.
In addition, there is another aspect related to the durability of the products themselves; Even if the product is manufactured using environmentally friendly materials, its short operational life ultimately makes it part of the waste, and this reflects the importance of sustainability being comprehensive, combining energy efficiency, quality of materials and extending the life of use, in accordance with Goal (12) of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to responsible consumption and production.
The importance of independent accreditation certificates
Despite the multiplicity of concepts, independent certifications remain one of the most effective tools to help consumers distinguish between serious companies and those that are content with slogans. Clementina Consens, from B-Lab – an organization that certifies sustainable companies globally – explains that the presence of a third party granting accreditation reduces the effort expended by the consumer to verify the credibility of the product himself. At the same time, she stresses that these accreditations must be based on clear scientific assessments that include the environmental impact of companies, from emissionsGreenhouse Gases (GHGs)to water and energy consumption.
But the danger remains in light of the spread of misleading certificates that some companies buy to appear sustainable without having actual practices to achieve this, and this is calledGreenwashing; Therefore, public awareness becomes the most important weapon, as it is not enough for the consumer to see a green logo or a leaf printed on the packaging to be convinced that the product is environmentally friendly, but rather he should demand greater transparency, such as companies publishing their environmental impact assessments, or providing quantitative data on resource consumption.
Major companies and their climate commitments
Some global platforms did not stand idly by in the face of these challenges, but rather took clear steps towards enhancing transparency. For example, Amazon launched the Climate Pledge Friendly program, which relies on a set of certifications from independent bodies and places a green leaf mark next to products that meet these standards.
According to what was stated by Nika Lipa, the company’s sustainability specialist, the presence of strict standards linked to organizations such as the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) gives these certificates real weight, and confirms that products do not obtain the mark except after passing precise scientific requirements.
Sound environmental practices
What is more important is that these efforts not only serve the environment, but also create economic value. Amazon data indicates that products that receive the Climate Pledge Friendly label see a 12% increase in sales in the first year, which reflects a positive cycle, where sound environmental practices lead to economic gains. Which encourages more companies to enter the path of sustainability.
In the same context, Walmart and Target provide public reports on their environmental commitments. Walmart has launched the Gigaton project, which aims to reduce one billion tons of emissions across the supply chain, while Target periodically publishes its climate goals and explains where it exceeded expectations and where it did not achieve what was decreed.
In conclusion, theThe Earth Guards Foundation confirms that the consumer is the decisive element in the sustainability equation, as his daily choices are an actual contribution to shaping a more balanced economic and environmental future, and asking questions about the source of products, their certification certificates, and companies’ environmental policies, represents a real pressure tool that pushes towards transparency and responsible practices; Every conscious purchasing decision can contribute to moving the world towards a more responsible consumption pattern, and strengthen global efforts to combat climate change.
