Synaptic Snaps, Crackles & Pops

Greenwashing [Journalistic Intentions Rd 8]

Okay, I've seen RW examples of this. While I'll admit I'm not the most frequent guest at any of our nation's hotels—okay - motels—I've certainly seen "Please reuse your towels" signs during my occasional stays. I've also sometimes wondered just how much of a given substance used to be in a particular edible item, before the item was "improved" by adding or subtracting the stated percentage of that substance. Does that actually make it better, and in what way? Beats me.

I'm also fairly certain we've all seen wording on generic or store-brand medicines along the lines of "Compare to active ingredient of...", and I've done those comparisons right then and there; it's pretty easy, since similar products are usually displayed in the same area. I've found that the amount of whatever the active ingredient happens to be is either identical or either just a little bit more or a little bit less. I would imagine most of us would go with the higher value, since more is usually better (of course, if you're dealing with levels of, say, potassium cyanide, then 'more' is definitely contraindicated).

Bottom line: there are plenty of companies out there touting their social, environmental and/or fiscal responsibility vis-à-vis their competitors. It's up to us to do a fact check and, if needed, call them on it.