Watch Out For Greenwashing

Caveat emptor - let the buyer beware!

Chances are, if you are here it is because you would like to see your community switch to organic landscaping practices. You may be in need of help from contractors, consultants, nonprofits, volunteer organizations, or others to help you with technical assistance, training and implementing an organic pilot program in a park or athletic field.

When we are looking to change our communities conventional landscaping practices, there are a few pitfalls we will need to avoid. One of these is greenwashing, meaning that a person or company is making misleading claims about their products and/or services being organic when they are not so in reality. Sometimes it is our municipalities and staff that are being misled, but whatever the case, it's important to be on the lookout!

While it's necessary for manufacturers, contractors and consultants to advertise themselves and their products, we must be sure that there is truth and genuine expertise behind marketing buzzwords like natural, regenerative, sustainable, eco-friendly and the like.

It's important to know that we do have national organic land care standards written by experts in the field, along with an accreditation program based on them. Even so, the word organic is sometimes being used by companies and consultants that do not follow these voluntary guidelines of preferred, allowed, and prohibited practices.

Just because the word organic (or any other) is being used, does not automatically mean that these standards are being met. 

So, how can we as consumers and advocates avoid greenwashing and undesirable outcomes for our community project? 

The following are a few practical tips on what to do when looking at our options.

Questions Should Always Be Welcomed.

• If you are politely inquiring, and someone is evasive, hesitant to give you information, or gets defensive, that is a red flag and a signal it may be best to move on.

Trust But Verify. 

• Be sure to verify credentials. It's easy to do as each voluntary accreditation or certification has an online searchable database. If the professional you are looking for does not come up on the list, check with the accrediting organization that they indeed hold the credentials they claim.
• If you are working with an organization, how are they registered in their state? Are they a 501(c)(3) or other type of nonprofit? Are they a for-profit entity, like a stock corporation or limited liability company? Are they being fully transparent about the structure of their organization or business? 
• Do they have the right expertise and experience? Landscaping experts have degrees in horticulture, turf science, and sports turf management. Farmers have degrees in agronomy and crop science. Both are experts at working with soil, but just as we wouldn't ask a sports turf manager to run a farm, so then we wouldn't hire a farmer to run an organic landscaping pilot in a park. Look for the right expert for the job to increase the chances of success.

Ask The Right Questions.

• Are they following organic land care standards and a systems approach with a focus on soil health? Or do they use a product centered approach disguised as ‘natural’ or ‘organic’?
• How will they improve the soil? What kind of tests are used?
• Are they just swapping organic products in for synthetic ones?
• What type of standards do they follow, if any?

Methods and Products.

• What steps will be taken before deciding if an organic chemical application is necessary?
• Is pest monitoring being done, and have thresholds been set?
• What types of products do they use, and are those products truly OMRI listed or FIFRA minimum risk (25(b) exempt)? Always verify!
• Ask for the product label and Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) on any product before it is to be used.
• Are they using the least toxic pesticide for the job?
• Do they disclose if they take a commission on any products or machines they are recommending? 
• Are any synthetics or "biosolids" used?
• Do they have dedicated equipment used only for organic products and amendments?

We hope that by using these tips you will be able to navigate the world of organic landscaping a bit better and make sure that your community is getting a truly organic program, products, and services.