Eco, Green, Organic, Healthy: What's the Difference?
The problem is, there's a lot of confusion about what's what, and the terms tend to get used interchangeably. Our customers tell me all the time that with so many terms and standards, it's easy to get confused – and I agree!
So, here’s a rundown on everything:
Eco-friendly and green are both labels that relate to our environment. Loosely interpreted, it's about treading more lightly on our planet and realizing that our children and our children's children will have to live here, too. Because of that, what is eco-friendly goes far beyond the makeup of the actual product and includes the environmental impact of the entire supply chain.
Organic, on the other hand, relates more to the product process, and it varies in meaning depending on the product category. Organic fruits and vegetables are grown without pesticides or the use of chemicals. Organic clothing is made with fibers that are grown without chemicals.
Unfortunately, "organic" has become shorthand for "more natural" or "fewer chemicals." Unless a garment is labeled "certified 100% organic," there's a chance that it was grown organically but still treated with chemicals somewhere along the way.
Healthy refers to products that are healthy for your baby. Sometimes that means organic, but it also includes other aspects, such as cleaning products made from plant-based ingredients instead of chemicals, or plastics without toxins such as BPA or phthalates.
Of course, there is some correlation between these categories. Most things that are green are arguably healthier, and if it's organic then it's usually more eco-friendly than something that's not organic. Where it gets tricky, though, is if you buy from an organic clothing line that's made in China and shipped to Des Moines, the green factor goes down significantly because of the fuel used to get it there.
