Exactly What Does It Mean To Go Green?

In simple terms, to go green means finding a balance between the life you lead, the impact that life and your choices have on the planet, and being mindful enough to help maintain ecological balance to preserve the planet, its ecosystems, and its natural resources. Not an easy feat since our society is not set up in a way to help us succeed. We live in a linear economy rooted in the “take-make-dispose” step-by-step plan. This means natural resources (raw materials) are collected, then manufactured into the products we buy that are used, and then ultimately discarded as waste.

Our planet is growing at a rate that is not sustainable, it’s expected that the world’s population will hit 9.8 billion people by 2050, we’d need two planets to support our current consumption, and it’s why the move to go green is more important than ever.

For those who resist the call to live more harmoniously with nature, remember it’s more than melting ice caps and tree-hugging, it’s about safeguarding the future of the human species and recognizing that we are a part of nature, not separate from it.

What Is the Difference Between Eco-Friendly, Going Green, and Sustainability?

I am sure you have seen these buzz words before, on TV commercials and shows, and on packaging from food to fashion to beauty. In fact, we see these terms so much that their meaning is at risk of being lost completely.

There is a ton of overlap between these three terms, at their core, they all promote practices that help to conserve natural resources like water but at the same time commit to the prevention of air, land, and water pollution.

What is eco-friendly?

Eco-friendly is a term typically used to describe a product and how it’s made. For a product to be genuinely eco-friendly it has to take both earth and human health into account. The resources used to make the item need to come from sustainable resources. For clothing that means the materials used are grown without the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides. Organic wool, hemp, and natural cotton are three examples.

It can also mean the product’s end of life has been taken into account, is it made with materials that can be either reused or recycled like glass, wood, metal, or cardboard. Or is it made from biodegradable material that can be composted, (or can’t be composted) which helps to reduce the amount of waste heading to the landfill?

Eco-friendly cleaning & beauty products are made from non-toxic, natural ingredients that don’t poison us or the planet and are sustainably sourced and grown.

It also means that the company that is making the product you are buying is also taking all of the above into account. They are paying their workers a fair wage and they are transparent about where and how they source their raw materials.

Getting to know the brand you are supporting is key to avoiding greenwashing, this is when a company uses terms like “eco-friendly”, “green”, “natural”, etc. on their packaging which makes you think you are purchasing a product that is at the very least trying to do better, but in fact, is not.

What is going green?

Going Green typically applies to the behavior you are taking to lessen your impact on the planet. But you can also apply it to the products you buy by referring to them as “green”, in the same way as calling them “eco-friendly”. Going green can be defined as “environmentally friendly decisions to “reduce, reuse and recycle.” This could mean weather-stripping your home to make it more energy-efficient, air-drying your clothes to save energy, installing a rain barrel to save water, or recycling your pillows, jeans, socks, or e-waste properly. These are just some examples. Companies can also use this term to describe their behavior, you do need to be aware of greenwashing here as well.

What is sustainability?

Sustainability is the connection between and how we live our lives and has its roots in a much larger, global principle. I wrote a comprehensive article on this subject called What Is Sustainable Living. I highly recommend you read it.

How does going green impact our body and mind?

There are so many benefits to living a more mindful life. Studies have shown that eating a more plant-based diet can help both the planet and your health. Being more green means spending more time in nature. Hiking, walking, biking, or doing QiGong. Nature has so many benefits, did you know it can even help you sleep better. Spending at least 30 mins a day in nature can be very beneficial to your mental health.

This type of lifestyle also helps to reduce toxins from common things like cleaning products and beauty products. Both of these can have harmful effects on your health. Conventional cleaners give off VOCs (volatile organic compounds) which create indoor air pollution and can cause asthma and other respiratory issues. Beauty products that contain synthetic ingredients like phthalates have also been shown to be quite harmful to our health.

What are the benefits of going green?

Global warming is a serious issue, Obvi! and one we simply cannot go on ignoring. If you are choosing to bury your head in the sand, understand that those choices are going to have far-reaching effects long after you are gone.

Our planet is a beautiful, awe-inspiring place filled with magnificent ecosystems and biodiversity that is under immediate threat, we’ve got rising sea ice, massive wildfires, mass animal extinction, deforestation, and plastic pollution just to name a few. Never before has it been more pressing than now for humanity to step up and make the changes needed to keep our planet (home) alive.

By choosing to go green you are helping to make the world a better place. Going green is about getting back to basics and choosing to simplify your life. It’s about making new choices, ones that are healthier for you and the planet, and making sure we have a planet for generations to come. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of what it means to be green.