Shopping for Salvation

In her article "Not as Green as They Claim to Be", author Beth Daley critiques the countless companies who are now using the "Go Green" gimic to improve their sales. Companies, Daley explains, often promote a product by advocating its many environmental benefits. On the other hand, it is questionable that these products benefit our environment at all. Though few companies "out and out lie," they are very vague in how their product will actually do good. One marketer calls this selling phenomenon of "green products" a movement that we will call "shopping for salvation." This movement began with rising concerns about global warming and companies saw this as a door openning to manipulate the panicky and malleable minds of buyers looking to make smart consumer choices. In her article, Daley notes that some environmentalists and marketing specialists say that "marketers... are merely tapping into people's desire to feel like they're saving the earth - but not sacrificing their lifestyle." Companies even take it so far as to promote a "eco-shaped" plastic water bottle or to title their website greencars.com. Excuse me? Green cars? Now that's a laugh. Were it not for cars and industry, our world would be in a much better place. On the other hand, as long as consumers consider to ignorantly purchase these "green products" and as long as no restrictions are put on these marketing practices, these falsified eco-products are predicted to create a $500 billion dollar industry in the years to come. So get on out and buy your hybrid Chevy Tahoe, get your 20 mpg, and then head on over to bp to get your "cleaner and greener" gas.