I recently saw an ad for a glass and aluminum side table that looks something similar to this:
And on the side of the ad, it reads “This table has received certification for not emitting VOC.”
VOC stands for Volatile Organic Compound, which are “organic substances capable of entering the gas phase from either a liquid or solid form.” VOC can be harmful to human beings and causes discomfort or allegic reactions. The most common area you will see VOC on is paint. Most eco-friendly paint now like Benjamin Moore’s Aura, contain very little VOC or none at all which makes it much safer for human and pets living in houses.
At first glance, the table sounds great! No VOC! But on a second thought, both glass and aluminum don’t off-gas any VOC to begin with, so of course it qualifites for the certification of not emitting any VOC! While it is technically true that the product does not emit any VOC, the marketing language can mislead consumers into thinking this product is “green” when it really is no different than any other glass & aluminum table. If the table were made from recycled glass, then that’s a different story.
What do you think? Do you think this is a truthful marketing language or misleading greenwashing one? What other greenwashing have you encountered in your shopping experience?