Why is it that "Going Green" has started a new consumerism craze?

[Renee in FL]

Isn't the idea of "going green" really founded on doing WITHOUT the stuff that we deem "necessary"? There are tons of companies jumping on the "green" bandwagon and selling more junk made in foreign countries (that come over here on massive pollution producing ships) to eventually be more trash that we just can't deal with.

Has anyone else noticed how absolutely crazy that is?

[Danestress]

Isn't the idea of "going green" really founded on doing WITHOUT the stuff that we deem "necessary"? There are tons of companies jumping on the "green" bandwagon and selling more junk made in foreign countries (that come over here on massive pollution producing ships) to eventually be more trash that we just can't deal with.

Has anyone else noticed how absolutely crazy that is?


I'm not sure I have noticed, but I don't shop a lot of watch tv that much or get catalogs, so I'm not sure it would have come into my radar. What kind of products are we talking about?

When I have to replace something anyway, like my washing machine last year, I do care very much about energy efficiency. But I'm not sure I have every bought a product specifically to "go green." Oh, except a few bags to use at the grocery store.

[Renee in FL]

"Green" cleaners, magazines and books about "going green", water bottles that are labeled "green", etc.

I just always thought the way to "go green" was to REDUCE consumption drastically, not just by changing that consumption to other stuff!

[Doran]

Isn't the idea of "going green" really founded on doing WITHOUT the stuff that we deem "necessary"? There are tons of companies jumping on the "green" bandwagon and selling more junk made in foreign countries (that come over here on massive pollution producing ships) to eventually be more trash that we just can't deal with.

Has anyone else noticed how absolutely crazy that is?


It's the way of our developed world. Any time there is a big shift in public perception or demand for a product, or for an idea, as in this case, there will be an immediate surge of products to support that shift, simply because the manufacturers see an opportunity to make money. Low carb diets would be an example. Before that it was low fat. Simultaneously, there are scores of people in marketing departments working hard to scheme up the next big craze in hopes of influencing public opinion in a favorable (read: profitable) way.

In the case of the "green revolution", the arrival of hundreds of new products on the market which are designed to appeal to the customer's feel-good sense environmental consciousness seems to be an antithesis to the ecological purpose that supposedly stands behind the labels, or behind the inclination of the consumer to be attracted to that product. Sadly, many people don't understand that.

On the one hand, if consumers aren't going to change their habit of buying, maybe one could argue that it's better for them to buy a product that has some green standard. Trouble is, it's hard to tell which are really green and which are just hype. In the end, it comes down to how well the movements true adherents can educate the average consumer, and to individual choices like your own.

A grass-roots movement known as The Compact (http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/12/the_compact_buy.php) probably has the right idea. Though I admit to (a) not doing this myself yet and (b) wondering how the majority of signees go into this commitment. Do they buy their new products ahead of time (not that you can predict every future need....but still)?

Anyway, this is a long winded way of saying that I agree with you. There's something really goofed up about the whole glut of "green products" now available to us. But, some would say that's progress.

Doran

[Renee in FL]

In the case of the "green revolution", the arrival of hundreds of new products on the market which are designed to appeal to the customer's feel-good sense environmental consciousness seems to be an antithesis to the ecological purpose that supposedly stands behind the labels, or behind the inclination of the consumer to be attracted to that product. Sadly, many people don't understand that.


That's what I was trying to say, but you said it so much better!