by Israelbelle Ferolino
As the demand for eco-friendly products rises, so does the incidence of greenwashing. Greenwashing is a marketing gimmick that companies use to forge an ecologically responsible image among the buyer.
Nowadays, we often see the ecolabels green, organic, biodegradable, and eco-friendly on a product's packaging. But what do these words mean?
At present, there is no clear consensus about the criteria for products that would characterize them as environmentally preferable, environmentally responsible. Without clear specifications from the government or an established third-party organization, these eco-labels can be used by corporations to convey false impressions and misleading information to their customers.
The Philippine marking and labeling requirements specified in the Philippine Consumer Act and Philippine National Standards must be expanded to set a clear and consistent guideline on eco-labels so that they won't be treated as a mere marketing stunt.
The Bureau of Philippine Standards must work together with the Department of Science and Technology and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to make this happen.
While consumers can certainly make an informed decision, it is more effective to make corporations accountable. That is why we should regulate ecolabels.
Israelbelle Ferolino is an environmental advocate from Mindanao. His works have been recognized by Philippine Forest Foundation and have won the Mindanao Journalism Excellence Award. He is currently a content writer at TreeBuk and a Philippine Ambassador Reporter for Global issues at Global Conscience World.
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