Sunday May 11th, 2008
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EZ Green Shopping
Posted by Belinda Miller on April 23, 2008 - 1:44pm.
I have always had a weak spot for Target, but since I’ve become a bit more aware, and since Georgia has become more difficult in stores designed to lure her into a consumer-kid-frenzy, we just don’t go there anymore. I always found it very hard to resist some fabulous-looking thingamajigg when all I really needed was toilet paper. And since I am trying to teach Georgia about need vs. want, and how stores, ads and marketing are targeting us, I find it much easier to avoid a store that manages to snare me every time!
So when I found out that Target is now selling Seventh Generation products, my first thought was, “Cool! I can go to Target again!” Followed immediately by “Wait a minute! They almost got me again!” True, I suspect Seventh Generation products will be cheaper at Target than at my beloved, expensive, green-leaning local grocery store, but I surely will end up spending more on things I absolutely do not need, rendering the savings moot.
I had an argument with a pal who insists that Seventh Generation should not have their products at Target at all — it’s a sell-out, and they should suffer the wrath of the true environmentalists who got them where they are. Which left me wondering if ecologically-minded products should be harder to come by. A greener lifestyle is not the easiest life to choose, so what happens when products that make our greener lives easier become available to the masses?
While I do think it’s important to shop locally, and continue to support the companies who brought green products to us in the first place (our own Gaiam for one), it’s not a bad thing to have green products in a place that caters mainly to people who aren’t accustomed to thinking sustainably. I don’t think green companies should have to toil away in relative obscurity to remain pure. And I know there is a lot of greenwashing to be wary of, and that huge conglomerates are not turning the green tide because they have had a change of heart. They have million-dollar marketing teams demographing every subculture; they know that lots of people are looking for greener choices, or organic or fair trade or toxin-free choices. And they want that green money.
And frankly, I don’t think your average shopper driving her SUV to Target cares that much. But having the choices in front of her face is a first step. I remember, long before Georgia was born, shopping at the tiny health food store in Manhattan and seeing Seventh Generation toilet paper for the first time. I had never really thought about toilet paper before, but I grabbed an individually paper-wrapped roll and read the copy on the side. I didn’t know about the hazards of dioxin bleaching back then, and I learned a lot from that TP roll! I also first experienced the feeling of making a difference by just buying toilet paper. It mattered, in a tiny, humble way. And it helped me start paying attention. So now I obsess about ingredients and where things come from, and how my purchase affects the world. It’s exhausting, and it might be nice to be oblivious, but if having green products in big stores sparks more people to pay attention, and to care, then it will, ultimately, make my life easier. If more people start putting their money into greener products and organic foods won’t the bar be raised for the good of everyone?
I am ever the optimist, so I think the answer is yes. What do you think?
Hi Momster, my answer is also yes. I do believe that if people demand the "green" products and foods the industry should and will respond, if they want to stay in business. The buying power of the general public is what companies, local businesses are looking for, demographics. They are doing their homework. The products are becoming readily available.
We have been amazed through the decades with all the chemical products and wonderous things they do, only to find out the harm they have caused. The enviroment and our health have suffered through this times and now we have become aware. People no longer want chemicals or other harmful products in their lives.
I do believe that the majority of these companies are listening to the public. They have listened so they can survive. The key to better our lives and enviroment is DEMAND, DEMAND, DEMAND!
So yes Momster, it's ok to go to Target, looks likes they are starting to listen. It's also one of my favorite stores.
Momsters post EZ GREEN SHOPPING about being able to buy "green" products at departments stores as well as health food stores brings up an interesting topic.
What bothers me the most is the greenwashing of products in these stores. To the masses of uninformed, or uneducated, they look at a bottle of such and such and pay their money for a product that will do very little good for the environment and for their health for that matter. Many of these products are being labeled as green, organic, natural, but if someone does not know what to look for in the label it could cost them since the spectrum is still pretty wide. How does an uninformed individual know they are buying a greenwashed product? It's out there, everywhere!
On the other hand, there are too many people who find it inconvenient to go green, so if its a question of putting more green into the pockets of the people who are truly putting out a good quality, biodegradable, toxin-free product - by all means it should be marketed for the masses to see and be easily purchased!
Too many "organic elitist" think that they can change the world by insisting that the American public change their lifestyle and immediately stop eating meat, stop using air conditioners, not drive everywhere and buy only green products. (By the way this is a lifestyle of some other countries around the world). This would be great in a perfect world, but its not going to happen.
Hey, I may be opening a can of worms here (good for composting), unfortunately the average American will be taking baby steps in the next 5-10 years as far as going green is concerned. Though I think the recession will help push people into conservation mode - and this in turn will bring out the green eyed monster in many! As Momster said the jury is still out and we can just hope and pray that with a little healthy push on our part people will see that it can be done without a major lifestyle change!
I say kudos to Seventh Generation for making it mainstream. While yes, choosing a green lifestyle can be difficult, should it be? I think by green (minus the greenwashing) going mainstream is awesome and it will allow more individuals to make better choices when it comes to the products they use. If more people make the choice to use Seventh Generation products over other products that aren't as environmentally friendly just by it being available in department stores, then we all win.
I thank your friend that has made the sacrifices in the past to be so ecofriendly and paving the way for others to make better choices. Hopefully they will see that green products in the department stores can be a good thing for everyone.
I live in a mainly rural community. We do not have access to whole food stores, or any place else to buy environmentally responsible products. The closest thing we have is Walmart and Target which we must drive 1/2 hour to 1 hr to get to. How are we suppose to go green and do what we really know we should do if we can't get the products we need to do so? Yes, I have access to Borax, lemons, vinegar and baking soda from my local grocery store, but what about laundry detergent? Do you know how hard it is to get soap flakes to make your own? I was absolutely estatic when Target moved in. Now I could by all my household cleaning products green, I could buy green beauty products, recycled paper products, etc. Many people do not have access to anything beyond Walmart and Target. By these companies carrying green products it allows us to buy green products. PLEASE, PLEASE let us help too!!!!
"what happens when products that make our greener lives easier become available to the masses?"
uh, more people buy them and help the environment, the awareness of the products and other green issues are raised, and the demand for more green products at lower prices goes up.
is there a downside? nope.
I think you do need to be carefull about products that are labled as 'green' to fit consumer trends, just like we had to be carefull of everything being labled 'lowfat' or 'lowcarb' to fit the dieting trends. It is a learning process (I admit I'm taking tottering baby steps) but if companies can really learn to produce environmentally friendly products and keep their profits up, that's great for everyone. The danger is when 'green' becomes just another buzz word and starts getting slapped on anything and everything.