I found a recent GreenBiz article that offers an overview on the increased proliferation of eco-labels and third party certification labels that customers must wade through when maneuvering the grocery aisles. An excellent point the author makes is that the value of the label itself is in the eye of the beholder, or end-user.
Most of these labels purport (and many actual accomplish this) to verify and certify adherence to specific behaviors or practices or qualities a company has been successful in integrating. Certifications for fair trade, organic, vegetarian, etc. all fall under this category.
While we here at Visionary Values applaud the diligence it takes to make these assurances, the fact remains that consumers are not single issues shoppers. Most people are becoming more and more aware that our world is not compartmentalized and our interaction with the environment has a significant impact on environmental health and our well-being. Consumers need to have knowledge of the full context of the impact of their purchases in order to ensure and further encourage society to embrace and support sustainable business.
We believe that if these standards are left strictly and completely in the hands of the government or corporations themselves, the customer will always be left with an incomplete picture. Consumers must take responsibility for their own well-being and begin to interact with and participate in these processes which define sustainability parameters. Join us at Visionary Values as we move forward in developing important multi-attribute standards by which one can see a fuller picture of a company's commitment to the triple bottom line!
Take a look at the article here: GreenBiz.com
Check out a comprehensive list of eco-labels here: ecolabelling.org
For a few more links look here: www.treehugger.com
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