Don't get greenwashed: 3 ways to make sure your eco-dollars are going where you want them

Greenwashing. A particularly evil practice used by companies to fool you into thinking you are buying an environmentally-friendly product or service. Here are three ways to out-smart cunning companies with deep pockets.

1. "Natural" isn't a regulated term, and products labeled as such are often quite the opposite. Because no laws govern the use of terms such as "derived from natural ingredients" or "all-natural", these phrases are frequently abused. Arsenic and formaldehyde are both naturally-derived, but that doesn't mean we want them in our products.

2. One or two organic ingredients doesn't mean the whole product is. Read the ingredients and make sure there's nothing toxic in there too. Same goes for the omission of one evil while many more remain. No parabens is good, but no phthalates, 1,4-dioxane (sodium laureth sulfate is commonly associated with this nasty probable-carcinogen) or preservatives is better.

3. The outside doesn't always match the inside. Appliance, energy and auto companies are some of the biggest greenwashers around, and some of the biggest polluters on the planet. An energy-efficient appliance can contain some seriously hazardous parts. Best to check with the company before you buy to make sure you know what you're getting, and when it comes to the eco-car market check the mpg. If it's not much different than it's non-green counterpoint save your money and find one that will reduce your auto-emissions and your dollars spent at the pump.

When making environmentally conscious purchases the rule of thumb is do your homework and don't believe deceptive advertising practices making claims that are not verified by third-party certification or ingredients. If the product's green-ness sounds vague, it probably is. Eco-conscious companies making products that are healthy for you and the environment are both careful (many are certified through numerous third-party organizations) and proud. A truly green company will tell you what makes their product great. Whether it's organic, doesn't contain toxic chemicals, or is produced sustainably, they will let you know in their labeling. A company trying to spin their product to get your dollars won't be so forthright, because they can't.

These tricky practices are not only unfair to you, the consumer, but are also unfair to the many conscientious companies out there providing products and services that are genuinely eco-friendly. If a company truly cares about the environment they wouldn't spend their money on deceptive advertising, they would use it toward making responsible and environmentally beneficial business choices.

Check out Treehugger, TheDailyGreen, EcoVillageGreen and SierraClub GreenHome to find out more ways to avoid greenwashing, ingredient information and to find what you need to know to get products that are good for you and good for the earth.