; Power of 50
Certified
Carbon Neutral
Businesses fund projects
that reduce the same
amount of emissions they
produce, neutralizing
their carbon footprint
Green Seal
Minimal-impact
products and
services from
renewable
sources
Energy Star
Environmental
Protection Agency/
Department of
Energy-certified
products that will
reduce your
energy bills
Fair Trade
Certified
Imported foods that
meet international
environmental, labor
and development
standards
The Sea of
Green
When Rachel Carson helped launch the envi- ronmental movement
50 years ago with her best-selling
book Silent Spring, which exposed
the dangers of pesticides, no one
could have imagined a world of
companies one-upping each other
with eco-friendly products. Grass-fed shampoo? Organic engine oil?
Not so far-fetched today. Here, we
decode top eco-labels so you know
what you’re buying as you navigate
a world going green.
Burn Wise
EPA
Wood-burning
appliances that
emit the cleanest
and least amount
of smoke indoors
and out
Better
Cotton
Initiative
Fabric from growers
who follow low-pesticide
and economically
viable cotton farming
practices
Friend of
the Sea
Seafood fished
from stable
populations using
methods that
don’t impact
the seabed
By Betsy Towner
Food
Alliance
Certified
Foods from
farms dedicated
to sustainable
farming
practices
EPA Lead-Safe
Certified
Renovation and repair
firms using methods
and products that
minimize exposure
to the toxic metal
Aquaculture
Stewardship
Council
The industry standard
for identifying seafood
raised with sustainable
and environmentally
sound practices
Good
Housekeeping
Green Seal
Consumer
products that
meet the magazine’s
standards for
quality and
environmental
responsibility
LEED
Buildings that are made
with eco-friendly materials,
save water and energy,
don’t unnecessarily impact
the site, and have
a high-quality indoor
environment
USDA
Certified
Grass-Fed
Meat from
ruminant animals
raised on a diet
of 100% grass
and forage
OT TO STEININGER; SOURCES: ECOLABEL INDEX, CONSUMER REPOR TS, INDIVIDUAL WEBSI TES
USDA
Biobased
Products with a preset
amount of renewable
agricultural, forestry
or marine materials
Certified
Naturally
Grown
Foods from small
organic farms that
follow USDA Organic
standards but don’t
have the budget to
apply for official
status
Leaping
Bunny
Cosmetics,
toiletries and
household cleaners
that have been
developed with
no new animal
testing
Green Star
Certified
Products and services
from companies
dedicated to waste
reduction, energy
conservation, recycling
and pollution
prevention
Compostable
Plastic products
that biodegrade
quickly and
completely
Rainforest
Alliance
Products made
by methods that
do not add to
global deforestation
and environmental
destruction
USDA Organic
Foods produced
without using synthetic
fertilizers, sewage
sludge, irradiation or
genetic engineering
