This label is even more loosely defined than "green". Consider this when you see an eco-friendly label - do all of your Facebook friends look out for your best interest? Are they all trust-worthy? Most of us will answer no. So, if you see this label, remember that humans have to do absolutely nothing to become friends with an ecosystem. We are already a part of the ecosystem. Any businesses or products purporting to be eco-friendly require a higher level of scrutiny than even a "green" label. More than likely, in the case of a product, the use of certain chemicals may have been reduced but yet it is heavily packaged in materials laden with other chemicals which are also unfriendly for our landfills. Another example is with soaps which may be made without phosphates but yet are made from parabens. 

 

In the Caribbean region, we should consider that imported products may be labeled eco-friendly based on manufacturing practices. Based on the model for exportation, it is difficult to substantiate a claim that the use of eco-friendly products is also eco-friendly,  wherever these products are exported. Each ecosystem and country has slightly different systems of managing pollution. So in certain countries the addition of a chemical to a product may remain eco-friendly because that country has a system to prevent wastewater from directly polluting the ocean.

 

There are trust-worthy companies and products which use the eco-friendly label however further exploration is required to distinguish them from companies which are shamelessly adding one non-hazardous component to their business/product while the majority of components are actually eco-enemies.