Stewardship Tip Nov 30th, 2010- Caveat Emptor
Caveat Emptor – Let the buyer beware.
The United States’ Federal Trade Commission recently revised their Guides for the use of Environmental Marketing Claims. The revisions provide guidance that gives marketers help to avoid making misleading environmental claims. The new guidelines are open for public comment until December 10th, 2010.
The guidelines, also know as the Green Guides, address issues such as the use of certification and seals in marketing, compostability claims, and sustainability claims.
The Green Guides primarily address products. When evaluating services, one must also be careful.
For example, we recently set out to recycle several old mattresses and box springs. We were encouraged when we found a facility nearby that accepted mattresses, at least according to earth911.com, for recycling.
We were disappointed, when we got there, to learn that the facility did not recycle mattresses, they landfilled them. This facility did recycle some products such as glass, aluminum cans, and paper. This gave the facility its “recycling” moniker. Anything else ended up in the landfill.
Whenever you are evaluating a product or a service for any sort of environmental claim, beware. Use caution and good judgment. Research your selections before you make your final decision. Ask your vendors about any claims that they might make.
Ironically, when we questioned the folks at the facility, they were straight up, they said that they didn’t recycle mattresses. They referred us to a company, however, that did.
Caveat emptor.
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