What exactly does "Green" Mean?

Ever wonder how green green really is? Walking through the store and seeing shelves stocked with beautiful products claiming to be "natural" or "organic" and my new over used action word and Madison Avenue's latest favorite "green" made me wonder if this is all a marketing gimmick.

Everything these days seems to be "green". But what is a true eco friendly product? An increasing number of environmentalists and activists are evaluating not only what a product contains but how it is produced and packaged. Here is how you can read a product eco friendly commitment.

Check the label - Are the ingredients listed as organic or all-natural? Better yet, is there a seal of certification from EcoCert, BDIH or USDA.

Scan the packaging - Paper packaging marked "post consumer" means recycled content was used to create it. Another green marker? Labels that are marked as having been printed solely with soy or vegetable based non-toxic inks. On bottles, look for the triangular recyclable symbol. Plastics with a number 1 or 2 inside the triangle, glass or cardboard are all easily recyclable. Most plastic lids and pumps can't be recycled; remove and recycle what you can.

Consider the company - The most green conscious companies don't limit their commitment to what they sell; they look at the environmental impact. Does the company power its plants with wind power or give part of its profits to local recycling initiatives? The company will usually trump these very important green factors on their branding and packaging.