Consumer Protection

As more consumers and producers become interested in the carbon content of their products, the danger of green-washing and label confusion becomes more acute. One of the strengths of a California carbon label is that consumers can trust that the products carrying the state's label meet a rigorous standard. Otherwise, consumers likely will face competing and often indecipherable claims made by various labels . This Los Angeles Times article addresses these problems; delineating how without a unified standard, "what goes for being a nature-friendly product varies depending on the group certifying it." Not convinced it will be a problem with carbon labels in particular? Just take a look at the numerous carbon related initiatives that are already making their way to the market:

Carbon Labeling Efforts:From Certified Seals to Self-Marketing




Looking for More?
Check out Gwendolyn Bounds' article, "As Eco-Seals Proliferate, So Do Doubts," in the April 2nd, 2009 edition of the Wall Street Journal. In it, she takes a long look at the "growing sense" that the government may need to step in and help decrease green marketing confusion by creating standards of its own.