- 19/07/2025
Category
🎥
Short filmTranscript
00:00This week on a brand new marketplace.
00:05Non-toxic, biodegradable, natural.
00:10We reveal the spin on green products.
00:13This particular product gets my blood boiling.
00:16A top 10 countdown of lousy labels in your home.
00:20So for companies they think consumers aren't looking too deeply,
00:23we can bamboozle them.
00:25What company's the worst?
00:26It claims to help wildlife but it has an ingredient in it
00:29that is toxic to wildlife?
00:31You got it.
00:45We're taking a tour of big box stores.
00:48Looking for products for your home with big environmental claims,
00:53we want to test.
00:55Okay, look, new and improved.
00:57Now biodegradable.
00:59Let's toss it in.
01:01It's hard to miss the green messages.
01:04Check this green bottle out.
01:07Non-toxic.
01:08Mm-hmm.
01:10But is it the real deal or green washing?
01:13Marketing that makes us think a product's better for the environment,
01:17safe to use.
01:19The green spin doesn't fool Adria Vassell.
01:23This self-described ecoholic has filled books warning us about all kinds of green washing.
01:29There's so much green wash on shelves today.
01:32It's just overwhelming.
01:34It's like a tsunami of green wash really.
01:36In Vancouver.
01:38Very good.
01:39Angela Van Tyne got interested in making green choices after her son Aiden was born.
01:45Uh-oh.
01:46But she doesn't always find it easy.
01:48There's so many things out there that say that they're green and organic.
01:51So it really is difficult to navigate through all that.
01:54Sorting through green washing isn't child's play,
01:59because sure enough, we find suspects for just about every room of the house.
02:06Our basket's loaded with green labels.
02:09In they go.
02:11It's time to survey our stash.
02:15Starting with number 10 on our list,
02:18Raid Earthblend's Multi-Bug Killer.
02:21You got it.
02:22Even bug sprays have green marketing.
02:24The label says the insecticide comes from the chrysanthemum flower.
02:29Sounds almost wholesome.
02:31Yeah, but lots of things in nature are actually dangerous and toxic.
02:36Not all natural things are good for you, and this is a perfect example.
02:40Turns out the chemical that comes from the chrysanthemum flower has risks.
02:44Just check out the long list of precautions.
02:47Cover fish bowls, food, utensils.
02:50Remove pets.
02:51Keep away from skin and clothes.
02:54That's an awfully long warning for a green product.
02:58That's right.
03:00They even say here, do not inhale, but it's a mist.
03:03It's a mist.
03:04How do you not inhale a mist?
03:06Take a great week.
03:07Yeah.
03:08The label claims you can use it on bed bugs, but get this.
03:12In many parts of Canada, you can't use it outside on your lawn because of pesticide bans.
03:18That's right.
03:19Banned from your backyard, but okay for your bed?
03:22What?
03:23We call SC Johnson.
03:24Hi, I'm calling about your Raid Earth Blends.
03:27How is this a green product?
03:29They tell us SC Johnson is committed to using sustainable ingredients in our products,
03:35and our products are safe and effective when used as directed.
03:40Well clearly, this product bugs you.
03:43Let's give it a lousy label.
03:45Back at Angela's house, she's invited over some friends who care about buying green too.
03:56And they trust what they see on the label.
03:59You're trying to, you know, look at all these products very quickly and get some sort of idea in terms of what's going to be safe.
04:05So, we show them number nine on our lousy labels list.
04:09Sunlight Green Clean Laundry Soap.
04:12Does anybody buy this?
04:14I bought that.
04:15The label says it includes plant-based cleaning ingredients.
04:19The word includes sets off warning bells for our expert.
04:24They use some plant-based ingredients, but not all.
04:27These days, most laundry soaps are actually synthetic detergents made from petroleum-based ingredients, not plants.
04:36So, we send this one off for testing to see just how green that clean is.
04:42Because...
04:43Petrochemicals come with a major environmental footprint from extraction, refining, processing, all the way to its end use in the environment.
04:52So, yeah, you know, most green products would want to be petrochemical-free.
04:56We get our test results back and what do we find?
04:59Turns out, once you take out the water, 38% of what's left, petrochemicals.
05:06Would you get that, looking at this bottle, that it actually has 38% petrochemicals?
05:10I would not have bought it if I knew that it had 38% petrochemicals.
05:14Key word is include plant-based cleaning ingredients.
05:18I think what they're going for is that you read the plant-based part and forget about the other parts.
05:23It includes, yeah.
05:25We call Sun Products.
05:27Pick up a green that really cleans.
05:30They tell us, with more than 60% plant-derived content, we have made significant positive strides to reduce the environmental impact of our product.
05:40But we say...
05:42So this is a laundry detergent that truly is greenwashing.
05:45Yes.
05:46Ba-dum-bum.
05:47From greenwashing in the laundry room to the bedroom for number eight on our Lousy Labels Countdown.
05:57The Obisform Ecologic Contoured Pillow.
06:01Most memory foam is made out of polyurethane, a synthetic material that can give off nasty chemicals that can irritate your lungs, pollute the air.
06:11But this label says this pillow contains natural ingredients, including castor oil.
06:18Well, you know, if they were using a lot of castor oil instead of petroleum-based polyurethane, then that would be an ecological leg up.
06:28Except that nowhere on this box do they actually say anything about how much castor oil is in this product.
06:35So, we call them up and ask how much of the petroleum-based polyurethane has been replaced by castor oil.
06:43And guess how much? Just 8%.
06:47You know what? That's just not good enough.
06:50We call Hometics the company that makes Obisform.
06:54I'm calling about your Ecologic Oversized Contoured Pillow.
06:58They tell us the Ecologic Contoured Pillow is produced using processes that reduce the use of chemicals that are harmful to the environment.
07:07But we say…
07:08Time to put these green claims to bed.
07:10Let's…
07:11Give it a lousy label.
07:13Let's check out number 7 on our lousy labels list.
07:19Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner.
07:22Sure looks green, says non-toxic, but not so fast, according to our eco-expert.
07:29The interesting thing about this product is that while they claim to be non-toxic, Environment Canada actually considers their ingredient to be an official toxic health hazard.
07:40That ingredient of concern? 2-butoxyethanol, a chemical that can damage red blood cells.
07:47But it says it's non-toxic right on the front.
07:49Well…
07:50Because no one's actually policing this term, they can do whatever they want with that label.
07:54Hard to believe, but non-toxic doesn't necessarily mean there's no toxic ingredient.
08:00And try to find it listed on the back? Good luck. Companies don't have to have an ingredient list on cleaning products.
08:08No one is forcing them to list their ingredients and to come clean about what's actually in the product that we spray all over our homes.
08:15So, we call Simple Green.
08:17I'm wondering why you're calling it non-toxic when it has an ingredient Environment Canada says is toxic.
08:22They tell us…
08:24We have had independent laboratories conduct a host of testing on our product as a whole to confirm that the complete formula is non-toxic.
08:33But we say…
08:35So, Simple Green?
08:36Simply Green Wash.
08:37Simply Green Wash.
08:38Simply Lousy.
08:39Mmm.
08:40Wow.
08:41Find out who makes the list for refusing to reveal their ingredients.
08:47In other words, what they're saying is we don't have to tell you what's in here unless you get it.
08:51A letter from your doctor.
08:53When we come back…
09:02We're doing some sleuthing.
09:04Non-toxic.
09:06Taking a closer look at products for your home that claim they're good for the environment, safer to use.
09:12It's a top 10 lousy labels countdown.
09:19Next room, the bathroom.
09:22That's where we spot number 6 on our list.
09:25The Eco Collection Bath Mitt.
09:27Made from bamboo.
09:29Which our eco-expert Adria Vassel says is not as green as it sounds.
09:34You know, the thing with bamboo is that it's sort of like the baloney of the fabric world.
09:40Why?
09:41It is technically from natural materials.
09:44You know, bamboo can be grown quite sustainably if done right.
09:47But it takes a heck of a lot of funky chemical processing to take a bamboo stalk and turn it into something soft like this.
09:54We call Upper Canada Soap Company and they tell us our packaging includes necessary product information for our customers to make an informed decision.
10:04But we say it's time to wash those green claims down the drain.
10:09To get the goods on green, we visit a Vancouver marketing insider.
10:18Hey Mark, I'm Erica.
10:20Mark Stoiber's helped companies with their spin for more than 20 years.
10:24But now, he's helping them go green.
10:27Why are companies doing this?
10:29Trying to get away with claims, hoping people won't realize that they're not actually as green as they seem.
10:34Companies believe that there's a shortcut.
10:36They're not evolving as quickly as consumers, so they still believe consumers can be duped.
10:41Check out number five on our list.
10:45Vim Power Pro Naturals Bathroom Cleaner.
10:49It says 98% natural.
10:51What does that mean?
10:52Well, pretty much next to nothing because the word natural is totally unregulated.
10:58And I would bet money on the fact that this product does not come straight from nature.
11:02It is a betting game because, remember, companies don't have to list their ingredients on cleaning products.
11:08So, we call up the company, Unilever.
11:11I'm just wondering, what are the ingredients that make it natural?
11:15Unilever does not disclose specified ingredients information.
11:19However, if it's a medical necessity for this information, Unilever would be more than happy to work with your physician.
11:26Oh, wow.
11:28We run that by our green shoppers.
11:30In other words, what they're saying is we don't have to tell you what's in here unless you get a letter from your doctor.
11:36If I make the choice to buy it, I have the right to know what's in it.
11:40We think so, too.
11:42So, we send off Vim for testing to see how much of it actually comes from nature.
11:48Meantime, marketing insider Mark Stoiber says it doesn't work anymore when companies keep secrets from customers.
11:56I believe it's old-school thinking.
11:58Transparency is the new status quo.
12:01So, hiding things and making false claims is going to blow up ten times faster in their face than it used to.
12:08The test results are in.
12:10Like most cleaning products, it's mostly water.
12:13But the rest, one-quarter petroleum-based chemicals.
12:18Unilever tells us,
12:20Our naturally-derived claim is based on all of the ingredients in the product, including water.
12:27So, the water bumps it up to 98% natural?
12:32Hmm.
12:33We say,
12:34That's a lousy label.
12:37And greenwashing isn't just inside your house, it's outside, too.
12:43Where we find number four on our list, organic melt ice remover.
12:48The label's full of claims.
12:50100% natural ingredients.
12:52Environmentally safe.
12:54An agricultural-based product with sugar beets.
12:58What's the problem with conventional ice melts?
13:00Well, basically your regular ice melt is just plain old rock salt.
13:04And, you know, it's good at melting ice, but it's actually quite damaging to aquatic life downstream.
13:09This ingredient list shows sugar beets first, then NACL, or salt.
13:15But when we check, the company tells us the amount of sugar beets in here, only 3%.
13:22The rest, that plain old rock salt.
13:25I have a heavy heart when we dig into this information because I've actually used this product in the past.
13:31You were duped into thinking this was mostly beets?
13:34I knew that there was salt in there, but it's supposed to be cut with sugar beets.
13:39And so when you look at the beets in here, it actually puts beet in first place.
13:43Turns out the main ingredient doesn't have to be first on the list.
13:47If it's only 3%, it really should be in the reverse order on the ingredient list.
13:51And they are definitely stretching the truth.
13:55The company EcoSolutions tells us that using sugar beets makes it work better, so you need less of it.
14:02And there's less overall salt going into the environment.
14:06Might be true, but still misleading. And...
14:09A lousy label, sadly.
14:14So where do we find the top 3?
14:18On our lousy label's hit list, in the kitchen.
14:22Starting with T-Fal's Natura frying pan.
14:26Our expert gives it a nod for using 100% recycled aluminum.
14:31Better than using, you know, 100% virgin aluminum, absolutely.
14:35But the kudos stop there.
14:38The label says no PFOA, a synthetic chemical used to make non-stick coatings.
14:43There's huge concern around PFOA.
14:46It likely causes cancer.
14:48And it's so widespread in the environment, most of us have it in our blood streams.
14:53Here's the thing, there's never been PFOA on T-Fal frying pans.
14:58But they've always used it at the factory to manufacture the slippery coating.
15:04You know, when I first saw this pan, I thought,
15:06oh, have they developed a new kind of non-stick coating
15:10that is now PFOA free in the manufacturing process?
15:14But when we call the company to ask if they still use PFOA to make the pans...
15:21They tell us, yes they do.
15:24In other words, nothing's changed.
15:26And so, if you go to this pan and think,
15:28oh wow, new coating on the market, this is a great new alternative?
15:31You're wrong.
15:32The company tells us, independent analysis has confirmed that no PFOA is present
15:38in any of T-Fal's non-stick cookware products.
15:42But we say, not on the pan, but still in the factory.
15:46That's a lousy label.
15:48Do you think it deserves a lousy label?
15:51Sadly, yes.
15:53So, what products top our lousy labels list?
16:00We pay a visit to the makers of number one when we come back.
16:05We're counting down lousy labels on supposedly green products for your home.
16:17We've gone shopping, done the testing, and we're about to reveal the worst offender.
16:24But first, number two on our top ten hit list.
16:28Jay cloths.
16:30They've been around for a long time, but now the makers say they're biodegradable,
16:35with an official-looking seal to back that up.
16:38Angela figures that means it's okay to throw in her green bin for composting.
16:43It is important because you can actually compost it, and it doesn't go on the landfill for years.
16:49That's what the Consumer Hotline tells us, too.
16:52Hi, I'm calling about your Jay cloths.
16:54Okay.
16:55It says they're now biodegradable.
16:58Mm-hmm.
16:59Does that mean I can throw these in my green bin?
17:01Yes, you can.
17:02Hmm.
17:03Not according to our enviro expert, Adria Vassel.
17:06Can I toss this in my green bin?
17:08No.
17:09Why not?
17:10That's for things that are biodegradable.
17:11Well, no, that's not true. Your green bin is for things that are certified compostable.
17:14And most municipalities that do green binning would tell you,
17:17hey, hey, hey, please do not put this in there.
17:20We're just going to skim it out anyway if you put it in there.
17:22And it'll end up in landfill.
17:23Listen, nothing biodegrades in landfill.
17:25You'll find 40-year-old hot dogs in landfills.
17:27Oh, and that biodegradable seal?
17:30Completely made up.
17:32But it sure fooled these friends.
17:34It looks official, this little...
17:35It does look like some organization.
17:37Like the recycling circle.
17:39You would think this has the seal of someone's approval.
17:42Somebody approved it, yes.
17:43It is biodegradable.
17:44Former ad guy Mark Stoiber says using a made-up seal?
17:48One of the oldest tricks in the book.
17:50Consumers have a limited bandwidth.
17:52They can only think of so many things.
17:54They don't have time to deeply research a product.
17:56They want somebody to do the homework so they can just grab it.
17:59So for companies they think consumers aren't looking too deeply, we can bamboozle them.
18:03Associated Brands, the company that makes Jaycloths, tells us...
18:08Jaycloth is composed of cellulose fibers which are 100% derived from wood pulp.
18:14These fibers are organic in nature and biodegradable.
18:18But if it doesn't belong in the green bin and it doesn't biodegrade in the landfill, our expert says...
18:25The word biodegradable in this instance is pretty damn useless.
18:29So we say...
18:31That's a lousy label.
18:33Which brings us to the worst of them all.
18:37The product that tops our lousy label's list.
18:41Cause it's not just greenwashing.
18:43It's causing harm to the very thing it's claiming to help.
18:51Dawn Antibacterial Dish Soap.
18:54The label says Dawn helps save wildlife.
18:58Dawn does donate dish soap to clean up animals after an oil spill.
19:09And gives money to animal rescue groups.
19:12But Adria Vassel says don't be fooled.
19:15This particular product gets my blood boiling.
19:18Why?
19:19Because they are making a big deal about how Dawn helps save wildlife.
19:24And then when you flip the product over you actually see that it contains an ingredient called triclosan.
19:30And triclosan is an ingredient which Environment Canada has just recently declared officially toxic to aquatic life.
19:38That claims to help wildlife but it has an ingredient in it that is toxic to wildlife?
19:42You got it.
19:44Yep, triclosan is what makes the soap antibacterial.
19:49It's also an ingredient many environmental groups say should be banned.
19:54And we are putting this down the drain into rivers and lakes where it ends up building up in their systems.
20:00Not a good thing.
20:01We don't need more of this in our aquatic life.
20:03We don't need more of this in our rivers and streams.
20:05And it's certainly not saving wildlife.
20:07Dawn is made by Proctor and Gamble.
20:10And last year they sold a billion dollars worth of it.
20:14We want to ask them about this soap's green wash but they say no to an interview.
20:19Seems the biggest consumer packaged goods company in the world is camera shy.
20:25Instead, they tell us all of our Dawn dishwashing products and ingredients are in compliance with current legal and regulatory requirements in Canada.
20:36But we say it's one lousy label and deliver this one in person.
20:42There you go. Great.
20:44For these shoppers trying to make environmentally friendly choices, all this green washing doesn't go over well.
20:51It doesn't seem fair.
20:53It just seems like you're being played by these big companies and it's just definitely, you know, it makes me angry.
20:59In order to make that informed choice, maybe we're going to have to demand information from these people that are selling us potentially dangerous products.
21:08A message to companies selling green products that hope one day to find a home in your home.
21:15Get tips on avoiding green wash in your home on our website.
21:21are brought to you by your place on social media.
21:37Try for you.
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