A green leaf on the label. The word “eco” in the product name. A recycled-looking brown box. It’s never been easier to make a product look sustainable, and never more important to check whether it really is.
Greenwashing isn’t always deliberate. Sometimes a claim is technically true but misleading, or a supplier repeats what their factory told them. Either way, if your company hands out “sustainable” gifts that turn out not to be, it’s your name on the product. Here are six questions that cut through it.
Tap each card to see why it matters.
1Watch the vague words
“Eco-friendly”, “green”, “natural” and “conscious” sound reassuring but don’t actually say anything you can check. Specific claims are a much better sign: “made from 100% recycled PET”, “FSC-certified paper”, “organic cotton certified to GOTS”. If a product only has the vague words, ask for the specific ones.
Vague words are marketing. Specific, checkable claims are evidence.
2Durability is a sustainability feature
A stainless-steel bottle used every day for years replaces hundreds of single-use bottles. A flimsy “eco” gadget that breaks in a week does the opposite. Quality and longevity are some of the most honest sustainability claims a product can make, even when they aren’t printed on the box.
Is each claim specific enough to trust?
“Eco-friendly pen”
“Notebook made from FSC-certified paper”
“Bottle made with recycled materials”
“Tote bag in 100% recycled PET, GRS certified”
- Ask for percentages and certificates, not adjectives.
- The greenest gift is the one that gets used for years.
- Check the branding method and packaging too.
- Make sure you can document the claims for reporting.
Have you ever received a “green” gift that made you raise an eyebrow? Tell us about it.
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