+33 9 83 57 25 38Are more and more companies using organic cotton bags as goodies as part of their eco-responsible approach, or is it just greenwashing?
At a time when tote bags are appearing in all the best boutiques, it's worth asking ourselves a few questions. Is this pretty, must-have bag a responsible gift? Is it part of an eco-responsible approach? Is it in line with sustainable communication? Or is it just greenwashing?
Focus on the organic cotton bag and the meaning that everyone will want to give it.
If for some companies it's still greenwashing ...
Greenwashing (in French translation, écoblanchiment) refers to a marketing approach aimed at giving oneself a responsible ecological image. If this term appears for the first time in the 90′, it is especially used since about ten years with the increase of the phenomenon. The British agency Futura has tried to list the uses that are similar to greenwashing, such as: use of green products by a company that is not green, use of abusive image or slogan, use of ecological jargon misused ... Greenwashing or greenwashing corresponds to marketing actions that are out of line, and today sanctioned by the law. But beyond the law, the consumer, who is increasingly aware of his choices, is no longer mistaken.
To learn more, you can discover the ADEME guide on anti-greenwashing
To illustrate the approach, let's cite a few examples that allow us to ask ourselves the right questions. It is true that when a store or a company markets products without any relation to its global approach, we can ask ourselves some questions about its real commitment and the final objective of its choices.
A non-organic clothing brand
Let's take the example of a non-organic clothing store, and not necessarily ethical, which decides to produce a special edition of organic cotton bags. If its objective is to communicate on a green approach and to imply that it is a global approach, then we consider that it is greenwashing. That there is somewhere the will to "deceive" the customer. In this situation, the bags will certainly be made of organic cotton, but the company will not look at who it works with, nor how the bags are made. Its only interest will be the promotion of the organic label.
Citizen bookstores
Let's take another step forward. While in the book industry, no law obliges booksellers to turn to the manufacture of cotton bags and even less of organic cotton bags, the willingness to work with Les Mouettes vertes to manufacture an organic cotton bag comes solely from the commitment of men and women who wish to implement an eco-responsible approach for their bookstore. Let's underline the initiative to choose a reusable bag instead of plastic bags, and to choose organic materials for the specific manufacturing of this tote bag. The choice to work with the Mouettes Vertes is a strong and quasi-political step.
We can talk about greenwashing when there is a distortion between the global and communicated approach and the actions that follow. The informed consumer-actor knows today how to detect an ecological argument misused. He also knows how to look further than the only organic label to know the global approach of the manufacturing and supply chain...
At a time when organic farming is progressing on all fronts in 2015, the ecological commitment of companies must be carried out consistently.
Read the agence bio figures: the organic market in 2015.
... for many others, the organic cotton bag is an eco responsible approach
No more question in this situation of wanting to "whiten" an image with a specific approach. The companies that choose organic cotton bags, kits or other types of goodies from Les Mouettes Vertes are in complete adequacy with the eco-responsible approach that animates them daily. And it is often in these situations that the realizations are the most beautiful.
Les Mouettes Vertes are committed to making personalized or custom-made bags. Here are some of the projects that have been completed, either on a one-off basis or with a common thread year after year.
Every year, Naturalia produces a specific edition of organic cotton shopping bags.
A shopping bag made of cotton canvas, then another model of bag in organic cotton made in collaboration with the street art artist Stew, or the nature in the honor with a model of cabbage printing
Les Douces Angevines produces kit collections for women and children:
Each of her creations allows the brand to be completely in line with its organic cosmetics.
Consistency, beauty of the gift, and commitment to organic cotton and know-how in respect of people and nature.
But also specific creations like this schoolbag made for Petit Bateau, in collaboration with Coq en pâte
The possibilities are endless with Les Mouettes Vertes. Every brand can find the perfect solution, whether it's a one-off or a long-term project. There's only one thing you can be sure of: that the approach you take is ecologically responsible!
