Eco-Lingo: Green

Eco-lingo is being tossed around left and right these days. We're demystifying common terms to help you figure out which words are the real deal... and which are just green jargon.

Today's word: Green. Really, just green!

Definition: How can we not know the definition of green? It's everywhere, from shopping bags to technology to sofas. We have green consumerism, green cleaning, green energy, green picnics and (whew!) green fatigue. But as easy as it is to pop this word in front of any concept, we've found ourselves a little perplexed about how something qualifies as green.

See, unlike buildings that are LEED Certified or items labeled biodegradable there's no rule or test that makes something green. Any company or person can label anything green so long as it vaguely hints to protecting the environment. If your kids have a bake sale to raise awareness for the environment, it can be a "green" bake sale -- they wouldn't even need to donate the money to an environmentally-conscious cause. So while it's helpful for enterprising children, or companies that want to look altruistic, "green" is trickier for consumers. We're not saying you should boycott anything on the shelves that has the five-letter word on it, rather be on the lookout for other, more specific words on the packaging about the commitment to the environment -- say, paper towels that are made of recycled fibers or pillows made from organic denim.

Want to test your vulnerability to misleading green packaging? This game from the Sins of Greenwashing clears up a lot.

Verdict: Green jargon. Look beyond the buzzword to find the real environmentally-conscious products.