Watch for Greenwashing: Here's How

You've likely encountered more than a few items splashed with false claims of planet-friendliness. In fact, 98 percent of products promoted as eco-friendly are guilty of some form of greenwashing, claims a recent study by eco-marketing firm TerraChoice. To sidestep PR ploys, read the company's "Seven Sins of Greenwashing" or view and rate advertising assertions at Greenwashing Index.

Quick tips: Be skeptical, look for certification, and trust your common sense (claims of being CFC-free, for example, are unimpressive, since the compounds are illegal).

--Avital Binshtock / image courtesy TerraChoice