How Companies use Environmentalism to their Advantage

Environmentalism is such an important aspect to everyone now a day's. Lately, it seems as though every company has "gone green" somehow. For instance, uncertainty in the middle east and natural disasters here in America, have driven gas prices up. This has affected many of the company's that make "gas-guzzling" SUV's. Many consumers are looking for cars with over 40 mpg and hybrids that are even more "green." I believe for a company to say that they are "going green" is just a way for them to attract more customers who feel better about themselves if they purchase something that is "supposedly" better for the environment. Many companies can advertise a product as great for the environment or that it does something special or safer than another product, but the truth is most consumers don't research whether what these companies are saying is true or not. Environmentalism is pretty simple for most companies to practice and achieve because they can simply cut down on certain things and be able to advertise even more about how they are helping the environment. We don't know the truth about what these companies are actually doing we only know what we see and hear through the media.

So are these companies actually "going green"? Have you ever bought a product that you believed was environmentally friendly to find out it wasn't much safer than any other product? Do you think companies are using environmentalism to there advantage as a free way of advertising?