Green Guides: What are the limits of environmental claims?

Green is arguably the most controversial color, especially when it comes to labels.
Certifications and labels for cleaning products can be confusing, especially when it comes to which ones are “green.” Even the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy’s (DOE) Energy Star program has undergone scrutiny in the past. At one point the Government Accountability Office created fictitious products, like a gasoline-powered alarm clock, in order to investigate Energy Star’s certification process. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in 2012 shored up its regulations on green claims when it issued revised green guides. Still, some companies try to slip by with misleading environmental claims. Read more.