Thursday, 29 October 2020

Down the Pan?

On the one hand, it is good that Amazon (the world's largest retailer) seems to want to encourage people to select products that don't add to the planet's environmental problems. They appear to be trying to do this, by awarding some their available products Amazon's Climate Pledge Friendly badge (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/28/amazon-removes-eco-badge-from-flushable-wipes-and-donald-trump-toilet-paper). On the other hand, some of the company's initial choices certainly appear to be examples of 'greenwashing'. It is difficult to see, for example, why flushable wipes and novelty Donald Trump toilet paper ever received eco-sustainability badges (since removed). If Amazon intends to continue with its scheme, I think they need to consult more widely about the criteria used to 'earn' the badge. There are many organisations that can supply the, often complex, backgrounds to products and their packaging. There is, of course, a natural tension between sales and sustainability! Maximising sales doesn't help the planet.
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