We spoke about greenwashing a little while ago and one of the most common way companies do it is by adding buzzwords like “green”, “eco-friendly”, “natural” to name a few without backing it up with facts. Checking the products for certifications can help us to be a bit more conscious and not fall for their trap.
Sadly, we do not have enough certifications that can we vouch for. It’s also important to remember that certifications might have loopholes but they are still a decent start.
PETA’s Global Beauty Without Bunnies Program
PETA’s Global Beauty Without Bunnies program certifies companies and brands that are animal-test free and animal-test free + vegan. With their searchable online database, you can search by company, brand name, or product type. The list includes manufacturers of cosmetics, personal-care products, household cleaning products, and other common household items. To be considered “cruelty-free” under PETA’s Global Beauty Without Bunnies program, a company must not only ban animal tests but also refuse to use any animal-derived ingredients, such as honey, beeswax, or carmine, in its products.
Leaping Bunny
Just like PETA’s Cruelty Free Bunny, Leaping Bunny certifies brands that are cruelty-free. Leaping Bunny’s list is considerably smaller than PETA’s since it is way more selective. While PETA only requires written agreement from a company, the Leaping Bunny requires that the company agrees to independent audits. This means they can actually verify if the claims are true.
Some companies can still be certified by the Leaping Bunny or PETA without displaying these logos on their packaging. This is because companies have to pay an extra fee in order to be able to display the cruelty-free symbol on their products. If the packaging displays one of these logos but you can’t find the company in the organization’s database (which you can find on their websites), it’s also a fake.
Standards and Labelling Program
The Standards & Labeling Program is one of the major thrust areas of the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, India. The scheme targets the display of energy performance labels on high-energy end-use equipment & appliances and lays down minimum energy performance standards. It helps you make an informed choice about the energy-saving and cost-saving potential of the relevant marketed product.
Most countries have their own Energy Efficient certificates. They usually carry a lot of information that can help you make a conscious decision. Do spend a little time reading about the one you have in your country/area.
Eco Mark Scheme
ECO Mark Scheme was instituted by the Government of India for labeling of environment-friendly products. The Scheme is being administered by the Bureau of Indian Standards. The presence of ECO Logo along with ISI Mark on a product indicates that the product meets certain Environmental criteria along with the Quality requirements as specified in the relevant Indian Standard.
B Corp
B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. The first organization to get a B-Corp certification in India is eKutir, a for-profit social enterprise fueling job creation, prosperity and livelihoods for India’s poorest communities. Since then, we’ve added 4 more to the list.
This list is, of course, is not exhaustive and a lot of regions try to come up with certifications specific to their areas. Go online, take a look if there are any specific certifications available for your area. If you find something, drop them in the comments below so we all get to know about them too!
Lastly, like we mentioned before, smaller businesses might find it a little difficult to get certifications because it can be a resource heavy process for them. Feel free to ask them questions to know what they do to be sustainable.
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