How to Spot a Business That’s Greenwashing

Julie Starr • January 21, 2022



As being eco-conscious becomes more and more popular in the business world, it is unsurprising that some businesses have jumped on the bandwagon without actually fulfilling their eco-friendly promises. With greenwashing becoming a more significant issue, it is vital to be able to spot what businesses are fulfilling their end of the bargain and who is just jumping on a trend. Businesses can actually gain a lot out of being eco-friendly.

Here are some simple steps for spotting a business that is greenwashing:

Is the company involved with an eco-friendly charity?

Make sure you do your research on the charity the business claims to support. The charity’s policy is just as important as the business’s policy, as by supporting the charity, they are endorsing its views. It could be worth checking on companies that support the same charity, too, as this can reveal different motives behind their eco-friendly promises. If you are looking to build your own website, through a website like Red Spot Design , you should consider how the company advertises its support of the charity.

Does the company have a mission statement that is eco-friendly?

If you are picking some holes in their mission statement , chances are they aren’t as genuinely eco-friendly as you think. It is best to use common sense when it comes to this step, for example, if they claim to use all-biodegradable materials but their packaging is all plastic, that obviously can’t be true.

Is the company transparent about its environmental and social policies?

It is important to discover what their employees are like and where their warehouses are. This can reveal things that perhaps the company itself hasn’t considered when advertising how eco-friendly they are, such as co2 emissions from the warehouse or bike-to-work schemes.

Ensure you research the product thoroughly and take a look at the company’s website and marketing materials. Do your own research on everything they put into their product and the labor behind it. Each will reveal whether the company is genuinely eco-friendly. 

Does the company have a track record of implementing sustainable business practices?

Look for certifications like B Corp, Fairtrade and Organic certification.

Are they transparent about their environmental impacts?

For example, do they openly publish information regarding their carbon footprint, water usage, and waste disposal statistics?

Is the company transparent about its environmental goals?

Make sure the company has a plan for reducing its environmental impact. Look for a reduction in carbon footprint, water usage, and waste production.

Are they transparent about their social goals?

Look for companies that will reduce poverty through fair wages and working conditions. They should also have policies that support local communities, women’s rights, and health care.

This is a great place to start when researching a business. Look at the employees, suppliers and customers to see if they can make improvements in these areas as well. There is nothing wrong with the entire business not being eco-friendly, as long as they are transparent about it.

If you answered yes to all of these questions, chances are that you’re dealing with a genuine eco-friendly business. You can go forth and purchase guilt-free! The more you use these steps, the easier it will become to instinctively know whether you want to support the business or not.

5 Everyday Items That Can Quietly Boost Your Brand

By Julie Starr • July 17, 2025
The best branding doesn’t always come from big campaigns or expensive graphics. Sometimes it’s the smaller stuff that leaves the biggest impression. Things people actually use, touch, or carry with them. That’s where your brand can quietly make its mark without needing to shout about it. If you’re only focusing on social media and business cards, you’re leaving a lot on the table. Here are five overlooked ways to get your name out there that feel natural, useful, and more personal. Thank-you slips If you’re already sending out orders, there’s no reason not to include a short thank-you slip. You can easily get these made through any decent online print shop , and they’re usually pretty cheap to run off in small batches. Just a simple note that says thanks, maybe with a reminder to follow you online or a cheeky discount code for next time. It’s quick, thoughtful, and makes the whole order feel more finished. Customers notice that kind of detail, especially when everything else they buy online comes with zero personality. You don’t need a complicated design either. Just something clean with your logo, a message that sounds like you, and maybe a social handle. The point is to give them a reason to come back or remember your name without it feeling forced. Branded zip pouches If you sell physical products, offer services, or run events, small zip pouches are surprisingly effective. Think of the kind you’d use for stationery, receipts, or travel bits. You can get your brand printed on the side and hand them out with purchases or include them in welcome packs. People keep them because they’re actually useful. They get tossed in handbags, school bags, or glove boxes and your logo just keeps turning up. Cleaning cloths for glasses or screens This one works brilliantly if you’re in tech, health, beauty, or anything involving screens or eyewear. A simple microfibre cloth with your branding on it can go a long way. Everyone needs one. Whether they use it for glasses, a phone screen, or their laptop, it’s something they hang onto. It’s not the kind of thing people throw away, and that means your name sticks around too. Receipt envelopes You might already use little envelopes to hand over receipts or business cards. Branding those envelopes is a small change that makes a big difference. Instead of someone getting a scruffy bit of paper in a plain sleeve, they’re handed something that feels a bit more finished. You can even add a message inside. Doesn’t need to be anything dramatic. A simple “thanks for visiting” or “see you next time” is enough to add a personal touch. Wet wipes or mini hand gels If your business is in hospitality, food, or anything hands-on, branded wet wipes or pocket-sized hand gels are surprisingly popular. People actually use them, especially at festivals, food stalls, pop-ups, or kids’ events. They end up in handbags or cars and stick around longer than you think. They don’t scream “marketing” either. They’re practical, and when done right, they make your business feel thoughtful. That’s what good branding does, it shows you’ve thought ahead.

How Student-Led ‘Energy Audits’ Are Cutting School Costs (and Lighting the Way Forward)

By Julie Starr • July 14, 2025
What happens when students stop waiting for adults to fix things and start conducting their own energy audits? Money gets saved. The lights get switched off. Data gets analyzed. And a quiet revolution in sustainability begins—inside schools that once overlooked their own inefficiencies. Across the globe, student-led energy audits are proving that change doesn't always need to come from a policy shift or a major capital budget. Sometimes, it begins with a clipboard, a spreadsheet, and a group of curious minds asking: Why are the hallway lights on at noon when sunlight floods the building? The Energy Detectives These audits aren’t science fair projects. They’re rigorous investigations, often done in collaboration with facilities staff, local environmental nonprofits, or even engineering mentors. Students go from classroom to classroom measuring electricity usage, checking for phantom loads , and identifying where heat is escaping in winter or air conditioning is leaking in summer. One high school in Ontario saved over $12,000 a year after its Grade 11 physics students ran an energy audit and suggested simple changes—LED upgrades, motion sensors in bathrooms, and smarter heating schedules. They didn’t just propose ideas. They pitched them with spreadsheets, thermal images, and payback timelines. It worked. Learning That Pays Off—Literally Unlike textbook learning, these audits blend real-world math, environmental science, economics, and persuasive communication. Students aren’t just learning about sustainability. They’re doing it. And the savings add up. From dimming overlit hallways to reprogramming HVAC systems that run all weekend for empty buildings, students are surfacing blind spots that administrators often overlook. In some districts, their findings are influencing energy policy. Elsewhere, the audits have inspired school boards to hire sustainability coordinators—often alumni of the student programs themselves. There’s something poetic about a school funding new books or laptops from money saved by students who found out the vending machines didn’t need to be plugged in 24/7. Why This Matters More Than Ever With education budgets tightening and utility costs rising, every dollar saved is a dollar that can go back into classrooms. And here’s where it gets interesting from a family finance perspective, too. If you’re a parent setting aside money for post-secondary savings, every bit of school efficiency helps. Fewer energy costs might mean more programming, better STEM facilities, or even bursaries. That raises a broader point: when families save for their children’s future, they often look into RESPs (Registered Education Savings Plans). And many wonder—is a RESP deduction available on my taxes? While contributions themselves aren’t deductible, the gains grow tax-free, and students often pay little to no tax when they withdraw the funds during school. A Movement Worth Replicating These audits aren’t just an exercise in environmentalism. They’re leadership labs. Students learn how to spot inefficiencies, speak up in board meetings, and make a business case for change. They don’t just flip switches—they shift mindsets. And they carry these habits into adulthood. The result? A generation growing up not only with climate anxiety, but also with tools to tackle it.