Green products are energy/water efficient, use non-toxic materials, are made from recycled/renewable sources, and are recyclable or biodegradable.When deciding what to buy consider:
- Does the product have a verifiable certification? See the product guides & certifications page in this guide for a list.
- Does it have plant-based, non-toxic, or biodegradable materials? This is important in cleaning products, for example. See the green cleaning page in this guide for more information.
- Is the packaging minimal or recyclable? Can you compost it?
- Is the brand transparent about its sustainable practices?
- Are the environmental claims verifiable? See the greenwashing page in this guide for more information.
- Where does the product originate? Shopping locally reduces transportation emissions and often supports smaller, more transparent brands.
- Is the product reusable or repairable? This is particularly important for consumer electronics. For more information see the electronics use and disposal page in this guide.
The links below are a good place to start learning about what makes products sustainable. Also take a look at the TEDTalk by product designer Tyra Johnson Hux, who talks about being a more savvy consumer and learning how to design more sustainable communities.