Environmentally considered

Products designed to reduce impact at some stage of their life — production, use, or disposal.

Which stage?

“Eco-friendly” changes meaning depending on which part of the life cycle it refers to: sourcing (recycled content, certified timber), manufacturing (water, energy), transport (origin, packaging), use (refills, durability) or disposal (sortability, biodegradation). A product can be strong at one stage and heavy at another.

What to check

Which stage the claim is about
Third-party certification such as FSC or Japan's Eco Mark
Whether it can be refilled, repaired or used for a long time
Whether any quantitative basis is given