Many Americans are working to become more ecologically responsible. When you make the choice to go green, it can be difficult to know what to look for. Greenwashing is marketing that makes a company sound more eco-friendly than it actually is, and it is everywhere. If you want to weed out the hype and discover some truly green finds, read on for some tips of what you can buy that is already growing green.

Natural Fibers

One of the worst offenders for the environment is plastic. We know that plastics end up in landfills or the oceans, break down and can end up in the food we eat. The average American inhales or swallows about the weight of a credit card in plastic each week. The plastic packaging most people think of though isn't the only culprit. Synthetic fabrics, whether good old polyester or the now ubiquitous microfiber, are used to make our furniture, our sheets and our clothes. All those synthetic fibers go down the drain with every wash and contribute to plastic pollution. Not to mention that the plastic fibers are made from non-renewable fossil fuels. 

So make the switch to natural fibers. Whether you are searching for something easy to get in natural fibers, like winter wool caps and mittens, or a green unicorn, like an environmentally-friendly swimsuit, any change is a good change. If you want to go somewhere in the middle, try cutting out spandex and lycra from your denim and choosing all cotton or linen for your bedding. Not only is it better for the environment, but linen especially is durable, antibacterial and hypoallergenic. 

Local Produce

Another way to help the environment is to eat more locally-produced food and to focus your diet on vegetables. As the author Michael Pollan said, "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." Animal products, not just meat but also cheese and eggs, have the highest carbon footprint. Ranches for meat, dairy and eggs produce at least a quarter of all manmade greenhouse gases, with some estimates as high as half. While it isn't necessary to go vegetarian, if you cut your animal product consumption, and make sure that what animal products you consume are from a local producer, you can at least cut down on the transportation portion of those carbon emissions. Focusing on a plant-based diet isn't only good for your health, it's good for the environment, and by buying from local farmers you can ensure that you get the highest quality. Some vegetables lose up to half their nutritional value only 24 hours after being picked. Connecting with your farmer also allows you to intimately know about their fertilizing and pesticide regimen and decide what is acceptable for you.

Research Big Business

While there are specific ways to make an environmental impact when you think about clothes, or food, as a consumer it can be harder to know if you're making a good purchase for things like appliances or even technology like apps. If you truly want to be more eco-friendly it takes some research and thoughtfulness about your purchases even most removed from "natural." Look for companies that are touted for their recycling programs and sustainable manufactures processes. Even when you're buying natural fibers, make sure that you are avoiding fast-fashion companies that fill landfills with their leftover clothing (this shouldn't be too hard since they generally use cheap synthetic materials). Tech companies like Apple have actually started going solar and wind to power their offices and stores. 

The most important part of this research though is deciding what is most important to you. A company like Nike may have created a shoebox out of recycled material, but they still face criticism for unfair labor practices in third world countries. Ikea has more inexpensive furniture that may end up in a landfill, but their products aren't made from cutting down hardwood forests. Every company will have its positives and negatives and it is up to you to establish your priorities.

Perhaps the biggest takeaway should be that becoming truly eco-friendly requires a bit of work. Don't let greenwash advertising keep you from weeding out companies that aren't truly green.