Contract Services Group, Inc. (CSG) has created the infographic to help the average consumer avoid cleaning products that are guilty of “greenwashing.” The information graphic, gives an accurate display of how products greenwash, and how to choose cleaning products are truly green and environmentally friendly.

1. “Green” Products have increased over
IS IT REALLY 73%
since 2009.
GREEN? But more than
95%
of products are guilty of greenwashing.
GREENWASHING
The act of misleading consumers regarding the
environmental practices of a company or the
environmental benefits of a product or service.
The Sins of Greenwashing for Cleaning Products
Hidden Trade-Off No Proof Vagueness
Suggesting a product is “green” Having an environmental claim that “Green” claims that are so
based on narrow attributes, without simply cannot be proven. poorly defined or broad that its
attention to other important real meaning is likely to be
environmental issues misunderstood
Irrelevance Lesser of Two Evils Worshiping False Labels
Making an environmental claim that Claims that may be true, but they risk A product that, through either words
may be true, but it is unimportant or distracting the consumer from the or images, gives the impression of a
unhelpful when looking for bigger environmental impacts of the third-party endorsement where no
environmentally preferable products. product. endorsement actually exists.
7%
10% 25%
8%
23%
27%
GUIDE TO BUYING GREEN
9 out of 10 Shoppers
consider the health
and environmental
impact of products
when deciding what
to buy.
7 out of 10 shoppers
are willing to pay a
20% premium for
products that claim
$ $ $ $ $ $ $ to be “eco-friendly.”
What to Look For