• On GameSpot: BlizzCon 2008: Diablo III's wizard
April 21, 2008 9:55 AM PDT

Images: A glance at green labels

Click on this image for an image gallery of independent, green product labels.

Click on this image for an image gallery of independent, green product labels.

(Credit: Jeremy Faludi)

With so many "green" options appearing on everyday products, navigating the marketplace can be tricky if you're attempting to green your life.

Home Depot stamps efficient lightbulbs, low-toxic paints, and other goods as "Eco Options." SC Johnson sells Windex certified by Greenlist, the company's internal effort to reduce toxicants in its product line. Canon labels printers as "Generation Green."

Environmentalists may applaud corporate efforts to sell fewer polluting and poisonous goods and services. But some consumer watchdogs warn that the proliferation of green claims will confuse or mislead shoppers, and prefer that companies agree on industry-wide standards.

This CNET guide to green labels covers popular, third-party markings on electronics and other products. Their logos represent pooled efforts by experts not on the payroll of companies selling the labeled products, such as scientists, nonprofit groups, designers, and government officials.

Earth Day 2008

Click here to see all of News.com's Earth Day 2008 stories, photo galleries, and more.

Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission is revising its guidelines (PDF) for green marketing claims (PDF), which haven't been updated for nearly a decade.

The Consumers Union directory of eco-labels describes in detail what's behind labeling on food, home cleaners, pesticides, wood, and other goods.


Recent posts from Green Tech
Urban wind power inspired by ancient Persia
Green news harvest: Ill winds for carbon trading
SkyFuel heats up solar thermal power race
Green news harvest: Mascoma, Konarka ramp up clean tech
Candidates agree on clean tech, differ on details
Powered by Jive Software
advertisement

About Green Tech

Innovation in energy and environmental technologies is long overdue, in business and at home. Green-tech guru Martin LaMonica and other CNET writers serve up fresh clean-tech news and commentary.

Add this feed to your online news reader

Green Tech topics

Featured blogs

advertisement

Inside CNET News

Scroll Left Scroll Right