Critics of sustainable certification and labeling programs often have fair points, but they miss the bigger picture. Who certifies the certifiers? Study after study is showing how green consumers are making a difference. As market shares of “green” products grow, so does debate about their true impacts.
So it’s fair to ask, is green consumerism working?
The idea that we can consume our way to sustainability as long as the label says it’s “green” has deservedly been lampooned for years. More recently, the questioning is getting more serious and soul-searching, because environmentalists themselves are often the ones doing the asking. To conclude that sustainable consumerism is “weak” or doesn’t work would be a colossal mistake.
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Fast Company is the world’s leading progressive business media brand, with a unique editorial focus on innovation in technology, ethonomics (ethical economics), leadership, and design. Written for, by, and about the most progressive business leaders, Fast Company and FastCompany.com inspire readers and users to think beyond traditional boundaries, lead conversations, and create the future of business.
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