In-depth Look At Green Certification Programs
The FTC has started a much-admired challenge to the Greenwashing of products accessible to the public, and they seemed convinced that Green certifications will run into similar hardships. Businesses seeking Green certification may be intrigued to take the “Easy Green” approach and merely buy a certification on the Internet. These Green certifications may ultimately become a badge of disgrace when the full truth comes out about how they were obtained. The environment is no tiny concern, which makes Green business certification seem commendable. The problem arises when businesses “cheap out” on this world emergency issue.
No esteemed certification is purchased with the same simplicity as downloading a portion of software from the Internet. LEED cannot be bought over the Internet. ISO cannot be bought for a discounted fee and a promise to execute better. UL certification does not come from a self-auditing form accomplished online. What if the J D Powers award for excellence could be received for the asking and the payment of a fee? Would anyone value these kinds of qualifications under these compromised conditions?
The dishonesty comes from numerous marketing tricks. First of all, the capability to construct a good-looking website is simply a matter of paying the programming fees. Second, is the tendency of many of these kinds of firms to simply post up a directory of anxious volunteers as though they were authentic members? With a little due diligence you can check out the membership to find that countless numbers of them are out of business or have never paid a dime to get a free listing from some directory.
The most misleading part of the certification process is the “Self Audit” which is oxymoronic. You may as well sell “dry water” or “smooth sandpaper.” Does the IRS permit you to audit yourself and then say, “Good enough”? No, you can volunteer your self-assessed taxes, but an IRS audit will ask some very inquisitive questions and require proof. An audit implies that there was an independent review of the process. Self-assessment, though incorrectly called an audit, is proof of the dishonesty at the heart of these Internet certifications.
All these purposeful deceptions are not just for the private appreciation of the business owner, but actually intended to convince the buying public that companies who “bought their certification online” are worthy of the publics confidence as a Green business. To assuage any criticism, the business owner is now encouraged to claim that the certification is an “audited certification.” There seems little desire for transparency to tell the public that “I bought my Green certification off the Internet, and I certified myself.” We can only imagine that customers would not be as impressed if the truth were known.
“Easy Green” is the certification comparable of Green washing that we see in today’s society. Rather than doing the job right, there is the appeal to short-circuit the system in the desire to draw clients. If it was not for the urgency of the environmental crisis and the attentiveness of a Green-motivated market, these certifications would dry up and blow away. But, the real reason of any certification is to make an impression the public. If this is true, then “Easy Green” certifications are supposed to fool the public by a hoaxed certification.
The argument made by these Internet Green certifications is that they are encouraging businesses to be more Green compliant. In other words, good intentions can substitute for the real thing. So, why not offer your fiance a ring from a Cracker Jacks box instead of the more expensive ring from the jeweler? It’s the same thing because the guy still wants to marry the girl of his dreams. But, there is something very wrong about offering a cheap imitation when the issue is so serious, right?
The Green Business League saw this problem long before the majority of these Internet promoters came on the scene. Instead of loading their directory with free listings, we only put fully certified companies on our list. Instead of offering a website certification, GBL trained Certified Green Consultants throughout the U.S. and Canada to offer hands-on support and a truly self-governing audit. In the belief that quality counts, the GBL website proudly states, “Earned, and not Bought” as their slogan. Any company taking into account a Green business certification should not accept a Cracker Jacks version of the real thing. Green Business League is the only association with the credibility, the team, and the commitment to offer Green certification that the public can rely on.
Genuine third party certifications are earned, not bought. If your business is looking to get certified or wants to become certified visit the Green Business League website. The Green Business League also gives Certified Green Consultant training for the public. If you are interested in that please visit Green Consultant Training website
