Greenwashing
As soon you think big corporations and major brands are taking a step in the right direction— the secrets are exposed.
Most of us who are into skincare and beauty, in general, would be surprised that we could actually be a part of why our oceans are in crisis and why coral reefs are endangered. After all, once we’re finished with our products we clean out the bottles and tubes and recycle them, and on top of that most of the products we use claim to be green friendly.
That’s what they all say.
What if I told you that most of those pretty packaged products you’re’ using are actually more harmful to the environment than you think?
You ever buy products that say “I’m recyclable” or “I am made from recyclable material” on the front? Shampoo bottles and moisturizers? While that isn’t a lie, it’s not altogether true. Most of these products are only made with upwards of 25% recycled material, and while that is better than nothing, it begs the question- what’s keeping these companies so far behind?
Whether it’s your Kylie Skin or Glossier products, and anything in between, what you’re recycling, usually just ends up in landfills anyway. Why? Like anything else in a capitalist society, recycling is a business- it’s for profit. Things that are profitable to recycle right now? Clear and white plastics. Not bubble gum pink.
“This is the heart of greenwashing: Cleverly disguising the real eco footprint of a product to sell to consumers who are interested in being more environmental, but are not yet educated on the ins and outs.- Lexy Lebsack (Refinery 29)”
It is not your fault. With buzzwords like ‘natural’, ‘eco-friendly’, ‘sustainable’, ‘biodegradable’, recyclable’, ‘cruelty-free’, etc, we are easily fooled with what’s actually truthful. These words are amazing and hold real weight in the conversation of environmentalism, but unfortunately have been exploited and are not legally defined. Companies can slap these words on items, with no repercussions even if the actions don’t follow suit.
The tea is— greenwashing is distracting, harmful, and exploitative. It takes away from real issues and makes finding transparent products and real green sourced items harder and sometimes more expensive to find. There is no proof (especially if consumers don’t demand it), it’s vague marketing, and it’s dangerous. Even the term fair-trade is slapped on products, and the meaning can be muddled.
I’m linking further research below because like anything else, there is hope. There are ways we can be more mindful about what we use and how we dispose of them:
It’s summer, which means you're (hopefully) slapping on sunscreen. This is good, but be mindful of what kind you’re using (which means, yes— you’re going to have read the back of the bottle). If you see the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, put the bottle back. Hawaii has already banned the sale of it and Florida and Cali might be next: it’s proven to erode coral reefs, and could possibly be storing its concentrate in your bloodstream.
Stick to companies that allow you to reuse bottles and tubes and containers for more product— go waste free altogether!
Try making products at home- from body oils to lip balm there are so many ways you can effectively, safely, and cheaply make your own skincare.
