When Earth Day began in the 70s, the purpose was to celebrate environmental movements and raise awareness and education surrounding the topic of the Earth’s natural resources. In 2024, as we face climate change, pollution, toxic spills, dwindling rainforests, and a threat to animals and their natural habitats, we need awareness now more than ever. The theme of Earth Day 2024 is Planet Vs. Plastics with a focus on reducing plastics to hit a goal of 60% reduced plastics by 2040. In addition to this, each year the commitment focuses on planting trees, voting for earth, cleaning up globally, and focusing on sustainable fashion. The issue that has been building for some time now is, like many other holidays or dedicated days, companies and brands have used Earth Day as their chance to drive lavish marketing agendas and push products and services that don’t actually do much to help the environment.
In response to this, you have probably heard of the term “Greenwashing,” especially amidst the recent EU & UK Rules and Regulation changes. Brands and companies will now face more scrutiny and, in some places, even fines up to 4% of their yearly revenue. To give you a bit of background to help you make informed decisions as a consumer — we’re breaking down common terms spotted around Earth Day and advice on what you can do instead.
Common Green & Clean Beauty Terms
Greenwashing
Brands or products making false claims or misleading actions about their positive impact on the environment.
Greenhushing
For fear of backlash or legal action, brands and companies are keeping quiet about their sustainability goals or actions.
Carbon Footprint
A carbon footprint refers to the amount of greenhouse gases generated by producing products or our actions. It is measured by adding greenhouse gas emissions throughout the product or event’s lifecycle — from harvesting ingredients to manufacturing, distribution, use, and disposal.
The Top Greenwashing Claims
1. Sustainable
To be considered “sustainable,” products must provide environmental benefits while protecting the environment throughout their life cycle. This often is in regards to sourcing and extracting ingredients and materials as well as the final disposal of them. To be sustainable, products must often come from renewable or recyclable sources, not deplete these sources or harm the environment, be biodegradable, and be made in a socially responsible fashion using ethically sourced labor.
2. No Carbon Footprint or Carbon Negative Footprint
No carbon footprint refers to products or events that offset or balance the amount of greenhouse gases they produce. While carbon negative refers to absorbing more CO2 emissions than you are producing, often done by planting trees.
3. Clean Beauty
A term developed to categorize products that don’t contain ingredients that cause harm to human health.
4. Green Beauty
Products that are sourced, created, and packaged in a sustainable fashion that is kind to the planet.
5. % Recycled
The % refers to the amount of packaging made from recycled materials, which often needs to be sourced appropriately to guarantee transparency.
What Can You Do Instead?
Instead of utilizing Earth Day to drive sales or brand events, environmental groups are urging brands and companies to use their voice to drive awareness of what is happening to the environment. Use your platform or encourage employees to volunteer, cut down on their personal consumption, and do their research to ensure the products they choose actually follow through on their claims.
On a personal level, you can even go further and make conscious choices for yourself, your family, your home, your community and the world around you. Use the day to plan ways to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Volunteer to plant trees, pick up trash or raise awareness. Look at your daily habits, from how much water you use when washing dishes to how often you use your car, the number of lights you leave on unnecessarily, bringing your own bags to the store, and buying local.
How To Drive Change on Earth Day 2024
- Do your research
- Support brands that are truly clean and dedicated to making a positive impact on the planet
- Choose cruelty-free brands and products that do not support testing on animals
- Choose vegan brands that do not use animal products and waste
- Look for brands with designated certifications that support any claims
- Use your platform to encourage employees to volunteer and host volunteer opportunities
- Reduce personal and office consumption through the 3 R's — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
- Reduce plastic consumption
- Attend a beach cleanup, or plan your own
- Decide to make more sustainable choices
- Participate in advocacy and accountability
