When 'eco-friendly' products are not so green

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: In recent years, there has been a growing trend of people trying to live a more sustainable lifestyle by reducing their carbon footprint and being more environmentally conscious.

This trend has led to some companies engaging in greenwashing, which is the practice of making misleading or deceptive claims about the environmental benefits of their products or services.

There has been a growing trend of businesses marketing their products as "green" or "environmentally friendly."

This is often done in an attempt to appeal to consumers who are increasingly concerned about the impact of their purchases on the planet. However, not all products that are marketed as green are actually eco-friendly.

In fact, some of them may even be more harmful to the environment than their conventional counterparts. Several environmentalists firmly opine that, “Biodegradable plastic bags are often marketed as a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastic bags. However, the truth is that they are not always biodegradable.”

In fact, many of them require special conditions in order to break down, and they can still end up in landfills or oceans. plastic cutlery and utensils: Some plastic cutlery is marketed as biodegradable, but they may only break into smaller pieces, still persisting for hundreds of years.

Disposable diapers are marketed as biodegradable, they may only break down partially, leaving behind non-biodegradable microplastic particles.

Marketers of biodegradable products often use the term "biodegradable" without disclosing that it can take thousands of years for these products to decompose.

This is a form of greenwashing that can mislead consumers into thinking that these products are more environmentally friendly than they actually are. Despite some claims of biodegradability, Styrofoam takes thousands of years to decompose and may cause harm to the environment.

Although some wet wipes claim to be flushable and biodegradable, they often contain non-biodegradable plastic fibres and can clog sewers and pollute water systems.

"Biodegradable" glitter made of non-biodegradable plastic coated with an organic layer is often marketed as biodegradable, but it can still persist in the environment.

Some plastic bottles are promoted as biodegradable, yet they can take hundreds of years to decompose, contributing to plastic pollution. Biofuels are often touted as a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.

However, the production of biofuels can actually have a negative impact on the environment. For example, the cultivation of crops for biofuel production can lead to deforestation and water pollution.

Electric cars are often seen as a more environmentally friendly option than gasoline-powered cars. However, the environmental impact of electric cars depends on a variety of factors, including the source of the electricity that they use.

If the electricity is generated from fossil fuels, then electric cars may not be as eco-friendly as they seem. It is important to do your research before you buy any product that is marketed as green.

Just because a product is labelled as "ecofriendly" does not ne