"Consumers who don’t have the time or passion to do their own homework can feel lost amid the dizzying selection of green, natural and organic products," writes Roma Luciw in Despite the recession, many are still spending green to be green.
But even at a time when the economic recession is straining many household budgets, families are looking for ways to marry their need to be frugal with their desire to be green, writes Ms. Luciw. "Turns out, a reduction in income does not automatically mean a drop in eco-consciousness as people continue to stop and consider the true cost – environmental and monetary – of their purchases."
But the explosion of new green products makes it confusing for shoppers to know whether they are making the right choice. “What we have at the moment is a lack of adequate labelling requirements, a lack of government oversight of company claims of greenness and an avalanche of information that is hard to sift though if you are a consumer,” says Rick Smith, executive director of advocacy group Environmental Defence.
Mr. Smith will be online today at noon ET to take your questions on how to navigate the sea of environmentally products. Where will your dollars make the most difference, what language should you look for on labelling and what regulations do actually exist? Send your questions to Mr. Smith now.
Rick Smith is a Canadian author and environmentalist. He is executive director of Environmental Defence and co-author, with Bruce Lourie, of Slow Death by Rubber Duck: How the Toxic Chemistry of Everyday Life Affects Our Health, a surprising look at everyday pollutants and the ease with which they accumulate in the human body. To illustrate this issue Mr. Smith and Mr. Lourie experimented on their own bodies, raising and lowering levels of toxic chemicals in their blood and urine through the performance of common activities.
Through his innovative work at Environmental Defence, Mr. Smith has played a leading role in shaping the establishment of the Greater Golden Horseshoe Greenbelt, the largest in the world; Ontario's new Endangered Species Act, widely viewed as the most progressive in North America; and innovative new statutes such as the Clean Water Act and groundbreaking Green Energy Act. Mr. Smith was intimately involved with the creation of the federal Chemicals Management Plan and Canada's recent decision to become the first jurisdiction in the world to ban the toxic chemical bisphenol A from children's products. Mr. Smith holds a Ph.D. in Biology.
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Rasha Mourtada, Globe Life web editor: Rick, thanks for joining us today. To get started, what can you tell us about regulations governing the labelling of "green" products? Are companies forced to adhere to standards or is it basically a free-for-all?
Rick Smith: The labeling of "green" products is a complete mishmash in Canada. There's been some progress of late. For instance, as of the beginning of this month Canada finally has a single "Organic" standard -- enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency -- nation-wide. Finally, the word "organic" has a legal meaning in this country: any product using this word has to be -- well- organic. Imagine that! Make sure the product you're buying -- be it domestic or imported -- has the new logo (it looks like a little maple leaf rising behind two hills)
Since November 2006, labeling of ingredients in cosmetics has been mandatory making it easier for consumers to choose between more and less toxic products (this scheme is enforced by Health Canada). With respect to buildings, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standard is administered by a third-party organization and internationally recognized. It's really gaining steam in the realm of commercial buildings and a brand-new LEED Canada for Homes standard was just launched in March of this year. "ENERGY STAR" is a label that can be earned by the most energy-efficient appliances, electronics and other consumer goods that is administered by Natural Resources Canada's (NRCan's) Office of Energy Efficiency. The best labeling standards are administered either by governments or independent third-party organizations.
