Here is a tough call: is this in the Wretched Excess Dept. or the Greenwash watch? Bananas come in the perfect package already, a disposable, compostable skin that doubles as a handy banana holder and instigator of vaudeville humor. But that’s not good enough for Del Monte, which introduces individually wrapped bananas as a “‘Natural Energy Snack on the Go’.” And what were they before?

A Southern California woman has sued the FIJI Water Company in a class action complaint that alleges the firm’s claim of having a carbon-negative product amounts to false and misleading advertising that sways consumers to buy the pricey bottled water.

There is little consensus about what exactly it means to be a greenwasher. According to Sourcewatch, it is the … “unjustified appropriation of environmental virtue…”.  Others have said it is the corporate effort to display itself as environmentally responsible in order to mask wrongdoing. Still others attribute it to misleading marketing through false or exaggerated product claims.

Since a true consensus for a definition of greenwashing does not exist, it is then up to each individual to qualify corporate actions as either green or washed out. Each person must decide whether to support the company’s seemingly sustainable efforts or call them out for not going the distance.

Green Mountain Coffee Roasters promotes its environmental record, but most of its sales last year came from nonrecyclable single-use pods.

These days, going green seemingly is a breeze: Pesticides, SUVs, laptops, bottled water, coal, airlines, cruise ships and dry cleaners all promise that they’re “friendly,” “gentle” and “kind to the planet.”

Unfortunately, there probably is no such thing as an “eco-friendly” product, because all use resources to create some amount of waste. Environmentalists argue ad infinitum about what “green” really means. And though the Federal Trade Commission is supposed to crack down on fraudulent advertising, critics say the agency hasn’t kept pace with the burgeoning number of misleading environmental claims.

Earth Day is coming, and with it, hours and hours of “green” television programming and print media coverage. People who hardly give the environment a thought all year will be “Green Watching” programs — and advertisements — about how to be more environmentally responsible. In the past, I always thought of this heightened awareness as a good thing. The added programming draws broader attention to serious environmental problems like the climate crisis, and I firmly believe an educated public is critical to generating strong climate action throughout society.

However this Earth Day I think it’s important to ask: At what point does “Green Watching” become a form of greenwashing? Should media companies lead by example on corporate climate and environmental action or because of their importance in educating the public is talk enough?

“Unfortunately some vendors may try to take advantage of people’s fears at a time like this and market products that aren’t effective or make unsubstantiated claims,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. “Americans need to be aware of what they may be buying.”

EPA registers disinfectants for use on hard surfaces, and when used according to label directions, such products will be effective against influenza A viruses, including the 2009 H1N1 pandemic strain. There are no products registered by EPA for use in residential settings that will disinfect or sterilize the air or a room by fogging. Claims for disinfecting carpeting, drapes and other porous surfaces are also false. The products approved by EPA are for use on hard surfaces only, and the label must state that the product is registered for the influenza A virus.

It is important to follow label instructions to ensure the safe and effective use of these products in specific sites, including health care settings, homes, schools, offices, and farms. A list of more than 500 antimicrobial products registered by EPA for use against the influenza A virus and H1N1 on hard surfaces is available on EPA’s Web site.

The public is encouraged to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for preventing the spread of the 2009 H1N1 influenza A virus, which stresses frequently washing your hands with soap and water.

More information on registered products: http://www.epa.gov/oppad001/influenza-disinfectants.html

More information from the CDC on the H1N1 flu: http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu

With the steady growth of the green marketplace, there has come increasing concern about — and prevalence of, depending on who you ask — greenwashing: A surplus of labels and a lack of verification behind them has led to shopper distrust of green claims just when truly green products are reaching mainstream acceptance.

Green Seal, the nonprofit certification group, is celebrating its 20th anniversary by undertaking a dramatic shift in its operations: In addition to continuing to certify individual products and services as environmentally friendly, the group has just launched a company certification pilot project that aims to measure, verify and push for continuous improvement of a company’s entire operations.

Federal regulators have accused four people and two companies of using bogus claims about “green initiatives” to entice more than 300 investors into what was really a $30 million Ponzi scheme.