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Writer's pictureKayla Saunders

What Do These Eco Labels Mean?



If you’re like us, you notice and read eco labels everywhere you go but aren’t 100% what they mean.

We’re here to help.

We’ve made you a guide to navigate the eco market with ease. Below are several common eco labels on the market, and what they stand for (by type, in alphabetical order). It is important that organizations are transparent about their practices and these labels can help you to become a conscious consumer. Check out our Conscious Consumption blog to learn more.


General:

  • Artisan - handmade and crafted with minimal automation

  • Clean - product ingredients are not harmful to human health

  • Conscious - having awareness and standards for human and environment health

  • Eco-friendly - not harmful to the environment

  • Ethical - the working conditions of company employees meet specific standards and employees are paid appropriately

  • Green - benefits the environment, but not necessarily sustainable

  • Non-toxic - product ingredients are not harmful to human or environmental health

  • Sustainable - can be maintained at current rate


Food:


  • American Grassfed - U.S. certification that a livestock product was fed only forage for its entire lifetime, was raised on pasture (not confined), and was never treated with hormones or antibiotics.

  • Certified Green Restaurant - restaurants that meet high standards for energy consumption, water use, waste, chemicals, food, and packaging.

  • Food Alliance - certification that a product comes from farms and food distributors that use sustainable agriculture/facility practices.

  • Marine Stewardship Council - certification that a product originates from a sustainable fishery.

  • USDA Organic - certification that a company is meeting high standards of production and has completed the organic certification process.


Clothing/Textiles:



Energy/Transportation/Water/Development:


  • Carbon Neutral - certification for businesses that offset their carbon emissions.

  • Cradle-to-Cradle - certification for businesses that meet high environmental standards (four different levels of certification, similar to LEED certification scale).

  • Earth Advantage - certification for businesses that meet high environmental standards in building/development industry.

  • ENERGY STAR - government-approved label for products that meet energy efficiency standards.

  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) - certification for businesses that meet high environmental standards in building/development industry (four levels of certification).

  • SmartWay - recognizes vehicles with low GHG and smog-forming emissions.

  • WaterSense - recognized water-efficient products.

  • WindMade - product was made using wind energy.


Cleaning/Household:


  • Safer Choice - government-approved label for products that meet chemical safety and performance standards to minimize human and environmental health impacts.

  • SCS Biodegradable - certification for cleaning/detergent products that degrade safely for human and environment health.

Thank you for your efforts in becoming a conscious consumer.

If you have suggestions for labels you’d like to see added to this list, please email us @me.society.hq@gmail.com.

Stay Earthy, friends.


<3

 

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