When is a product "green"?

There isn't a clear definition out there for what constitutes a green consumer product. For example we can all probably agree that a product that is toxic, made in an environmentally destructive way, and is packaged in a package that is not recycable cannot be considered a green product.

Now what if the manufacturer increased the content of recycled plastic to 10% in the packaging - leaving everything status quo. In that case the product is in fact a "greener" product. Can the manufacturer call it a "green" version of the previous product? Many manufacturers do. In the end of the day the product is in fact slightly better for the environment, so why not call it a green product.

Since there is no government agency that regulates the term "green" many manufacturers are faced with this marketing question, since everyone wants to be seen as green - especially now. More over the private groups that attempt to validate "green" statements are also many times unregulated and define their own rules. This is not a bad thing, except when you see how many groups are out there trying to become the "green stamp of approval." The number is staggering.

Here's another question. Say that you make a cleaner - which like almost all cleaners in the marketplace is made from 96% + water and is packaged in a package made from virgin plastic, but a package that is recyclable. This is the case I think for the majority of cleaning products available today to us in major big-box retailers. Should the manufacturers label these products as green since they are "96% natural" and packaged in a recyclable bottle? Again many manufactures do.

This behavior many be called "greenwashing" but is it a bad thing? In the end manufacturers in both examples are bringing awareness to the green movement - something that we can all agree on is a good thing.