Coming Clean
The truth is vital. Especially as a follower of Jesus, it means much to me. Whether in a relationship or as a consumer, being transparent opens the door for honesty. When I engage in a conversation or whether I buy a product, I engage based on truth. But what happens when that trust is broken?
Just as in friendship, transparency is crucial for a healthy relationship. The ebb and flow waxes more fluid if both parties are open and honest. If one holds back, then the other feels cheated or disrespected. Friendships cannot last if transparency is not valued by both parties. As a friend transparency is sharing ideas, values, opinions and being accepted even though there may be differences present. As a consumer transparency is about fully disclosing manufacturing practices, ingredients, sourcing, packaging, and disclosing if a company uses child labor, has wage theft, or slave labor. Transparency is a company assuring the consumer that the product it makes is what it says it is, performs as touted, and is worth the price tag. This may seem like polar opposites – friendships and products, but there are similarities in regards to transparency. Let me explain.
Over 2 years ago, when I began my journey for clean living, I was looking to buy beyond organic produce, meat and eggs. I explored what we were using in personal care products, what we were using to clean the house and what products we were using on the farm. Sounds easy, right? Actually, it was a Pandora’s Box.
I began with products that were in my own makeup bag, looking for labels and ingredient listings. Cleansers, moisturizers, foundation, lipstick. Everything. I had a hodge podge of stuff, using many different products from many different companies. I was not loyal to any one company. Budget friendly was a deciding factor. Plus, I liked the convenience of strolling down the aisle of Target to buy what I needed. As a young mom for many of those years, time and money were not luxury commodities. At the time I had no idea that I was purchasing products that were compromising our already fragile health – autoimmunity resides with us.
In my quest, I did find many questionable ingredients in the products we used every day. I threw out dozens of bottles, cartons and containers. I also made a demonstration tub of ones that were the most common and worst culprits, so I would remember how important it was for me. But, even more than this discovery, was the fact that companies that I had spent that hard-earned cash had been failing me. I wrongly assumed that when I took an item off a shelf and brought it home, it had been adequately screened, was good for me, and the manufacturer had my health in mind. Naïve? Yes.
The light bulb came blaring on one day when I tried to find ingredients on personal care products that were used more than once a day. As I could not find anything on the actual products themselves, I had to research online to find the products and go from there. What I found was alarming. Nothing. Yes, that is right. I could not access what ingredients were used. And when I asked around, I found that this information was indeed not available to the regular consumer. I now had empty cupboards and no idea what to use to replace what we had or which products and/or companies were safe and clean. I was stuck.
Because of this discovery, I learned there is such a thing as transparency in companies. Yes, I know that the stereotypical used car salesman exists, but I thought he really only existed on the used car lot, not in the aisle of my grocery store. As I was delving into this, it seemed the personal care industry, as well as many other industries were becoming aware that consumers were wanting more information as well. Watch dog groups started popping up. Third party groups were doing research and making their findings accessible to the consumer. More and more companies were adding more notes on their labels (gluten free, organic, non GMO, all natural, BPA free, etc.).
At the same time, greenwashing (see previous article for this topic) was making itself apparent. So, now instead of just looking for transparency, I needed to be aware of greenwashing. I am so grateful that God is a God who hears and leads because I cried out and followed. That same money that had been spent on what was now in the garbage pail, became available for safe clean products, and needed to be spent wisely on products that would not increase our toxic load. It was not an impossible task, but one that needed divine guidance.
Because of this research on transparency, I find that I am more likely to buy based on recommendations from trusted friends, my own vetting of companies, and contacting the companies themselves to interact with them. I make mistakes, of course, but they are becoming less frequent. With time, we have found products that actually work, are not made from toxic ingredients nor are they sourced from questionable companies.
Honesty is the best policy. Yes. But to take it a step further – Christ is Truth, and He is best to follow. In our everyday life. He does lead. He does grant us wisdom to live. He gives us what we need. Even in our need for transparency in the products we buy or the friendships we have.
