With more and more consumers looking to buy eco-friendly products, companies big and small are trying to go green. Some companies however have missed the mark.

Greenwashing occurs when a company promotes a seemingly green attribute of a product, but the product overall is not green. These companies are misleading consumers into believing their products or services are greener than they actually are. Many of these companies also spend a lot more time and money trying to advertise that they are eco-friendly, rather than implementing truly sustainable environmentally friendly practices.

Don’t be fooled by greenwashing. The best way to avoid this is to be an informed consumer and research products and services before you buy them. As consumers get more informed, it will be harder and harder for companies to pretend they are green.

Some signs that a product truly is green include, but are not limited to:

Reusable or biodegradable packaging
Locally made
100% Organic
Made from rapidly renewable resources
Manufacturer uses sustainable energy like wind or solar
No harmful chemicals used in product or manufacturing