How to Pick Green Products: The Life Cycle Method

Many people these days are trying to live a greener lifestyle, that is, using more products that are friendlier to the environment, and using fewer products that are not friendly to the environment. When deciding what products to use, one of the best ways to pick the greenest product is to factor in all elements of that product's life cycle.

Green Product Life Cycle: Materials Used

The first element to consider in a product's lifestyle to weigh into your decision on whether it is green enough is the question of what materials are used to make that product. Renewable materials such as plant-based materials are far better than synthetically produced materials. This is because they will continue to grow back rather than using up something that will now have no further ability to be used. In addition, products made out of recycled materials are even better because they are using materials that have already been taken from their environment rather than taking new materials.

Green Product Life Cycle: Manufacturing Process

Next, consider how the product is manufactured. Products that are made by hand are better than those made in large factories that cause pollution and produce a lot of harmful waste materials.

In addition to the manufacturing conditions, you should also consider where the product is made and what was consumed in order to get the product to you. Things that are made in your area will almost always be "greener" than comparable products made in a comparable setting halfway around the world.

Green Product Life Cycle: Effect on Humans when in Use

Families with children are especially sensitive to this element of a product's life cycle, but it is important for all people to consider how the product will affect them while they are using it. If you are using a household cleaner that has a horrible chemical smell to it, chances are, you are breathing things that are not intended for humans to breathe in that high of a concentration. Also consider whether products are toxic to you when they come into contact with our skin, or when they are ingested.

Green Product Life Cycle: Disposal or Reuse

Lastly, when you are purchasing a product, you should think about what is going to happen to it when you are done using it. This is something that has been in public consciousness for a long time (remember the slogan "recycle, reduce, reuse, complete the circle"?), and it is still incredibly important. Products that go to the landfill and take many years to break down (and release hazardous chemicals as they do) are far less green than those that you can reuse in your home, recycle at a recycling center, or leave to biodegrade quickly.

Green Product Life Cycle: It's a Lifestyle

When you are picking green products based on their whole life cycle, remember that you should be doing this over your whole life cycle as well, from your foods, to your car, your cleaning products, and your furniture, over a period of many years. Being green is something that happens in degrees, and you don't need to be worried if you are not completely green all the time. However, it is a good idea to consider from time to time which products in your house have the least green life cycle, and how you can replace them with different products or cut out their use entirely.