S1 E3: We make decisions about what to buy (and who to buy it from) every day. Choosing environmentally-responsible products and brands is important to many of us, especially in light of what’s happening with our climate. But these choices can be difficult to make when we’re surrounded by persuasive advertising and most of us don’t have the time to research every bottle of detergent or pair of shoes. 

In this episode, Christina focuses her attention on greenwashing. It’s one of those big bad words of environmentalism, and it can be kind of tricky to spot. Many of the products we use in our daily life are subject to greenwashing -- even bank accounts! So, how do you avoid greenwashed products? How much does your dollar actually matter? And what are companies really doing to act on climate change?

Christina brings these questions and more to a few people who are determined to combat greenwashing. First, she catches up with Avocado’s Director of Sustainability and Impact, Bri Decker, to hear about how Avocado is communicating its impact to customers.

Bri shares that there are legitimate, rigorous certifications and labels that brands can pursue to verify and convey their environmental practices. So, Christina chats with representatives of these certifications to learn more. They include Climate Neutral, 1% for the Planet, and B Lab’s B Corp certification.

Going beyond specific certifications, Christina talks with Raj Aggarwal of the B Corp Climate Collective about how business leaders can and should be approaching climate action, specifically through climate justice. Ali-Reza Vahabzadeh of the American Sustainable Business Council also shares how the organization is advocating for these priorities legislatively.

Highlights:

• What is greenwashing? (3:04)
• Trusted certifications we can look for when shopping (5:38)
• What’s the difference between a stakeholder and a shareholder? (8:35)
• Going climate neutral (10:52)
• What 1% of sales can do for our planet (16:04)
• Avocado’s journey to B Corp certification (19:59)
• Defining climate justice (21:56)
• 8 questions to ask yourself as you move toward climate justice (25:03)
• How values-driven organizations are advocating for change on a national scale (26:33)

Terminology:

• Greenwashing
• Stakeholder capitalism
• B Corp
• Carbon Neutral
• Carbon offset
• Net zero
• Climate justice

Resources:

• Climate Neutral Certified brands
• Brands that are donating 1% for the Planet
• Certified B Corps
• American Sustainable Business Council member brands
• Learn more about the B Corp Climate Collective
  • Read their Climate Justice Playbook for Business
• The Truth About Greenwashing
• Conscious Living 101
• What are Carbon Offsets?