To: All Corporations
Cc: Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Local Governments, Legislators, and Concerned Consumers

Subject: Demand for Fair Pricing, Transparency, and Cost Reduction in Recycled Products

 
We the undersigned consumers, environmental advocates, and responsible citizens, are calling on All Corporations and policymakers to ensure that recycled, sustainable, and eco-friendly products are offered at fair prices that reflect their actual costs, and to require full transparency about the environmental claims companies make.

 
Background:

In recent years, consumers have been told that the solution to our growing environmental crisis is to support recycled products — from plastic bottles to clothing and electronics. We have been encouraged to purchase these goods, believing that we are helping to save the planet by reducing waste and lowering our carbon footprint.

However, we are increasingly finding that eco-friendly products are being priced at the same — or even higher — rates than their non-recycled counterparts, even though the cost to produce recycled materials is often cheaper than new raw materials. Instead of these cost savings being passed on to consumers, corporations are capitalizing on the goodwill of those who want to make a positive environmental impact.

 
The Problem:

Exploitation of consumer goodwill: Companies have turned eco-friendly products into a premium price category, charging consumers more for products that may not be meaningfully more sustainable than their traditional counterparts.
Lack of transparency: Many companies advertise their products as “eco-friendly” or “recycled” without providing clear information about the actual amount of recycled material used or the true environmental impact of their manufacturing processes.
Higher prices without true sustainability: Recycled products, instead of becoming cheaper due to reduced raw material costs, are often priced the same or even higher, causing environmental solutions to become economically inaccessible to many people. This is economic exploitation disguised as environmentalism.
Greenwashing: Many brands are guilty of greenwashing — making misleading or false claims about their environmental impact to boost their image, while continuing to engage in harmful or unsustainable practices behind the scenes.
 
Our Demands:

Fair pricing for recycled and eco-friendly products: We demand that the cost of recycled products be based on their actual production costs, not inflated due to misleading “green” marketing strategies. As recycled materials are used and recycled again, the cost of that product should decrease with each cycle, eventually making the product free once it has been fully recycled and reused multiple times. The price should reset only when a new batch of materials is required.
Mandatory transparency in eco-product labeling: We call for clear labeling on all products that indicates:
The percentage of recycled material used.
The environmental impact of manufacturing processes.
Whether the product is truly recyclable or compostable.
Government regulations and protections for consumers: We ask lawmakers to create policies that:
Mandate companies disclose full environmental and price information for eco-products.
Enforce penalties for companies engaged in greenwashing.
Introduce price caps or incentives for companies that use recycled materials, ensuring that consumers are not penalized for choosing sustainable options.
Commitment from corporations to prioritize actual sustainability over profit-driven “green” branding:
Recycled goods should be more affordable, not more expensive.
Companies must be held accountable for their environmental claims, with penalties for false advertising.
 
Conclusion:

As consumers, we have the power to push for a more ethical, transparent, and sustainable future. We demand that companies take responsibility for the environmental impact of their products — not just through marketing slogans, but through fair pricing and honest practices. We cannot allow greenwashing to continue without consequence, nor can we allow corporations to exploit our desire to protect the planet for their own financial gain.

We call on you to sign this petition and demand that companies and lawmakers work together to create fair, transparent, and genuinely sustainable pricing for eco-friendly products, with pricing models that reward consumers for participating in recycling cycles.

 
Sign your name today, and let’s hold corporations accountable for their environmental claims and their pricing strategies.

Lannay Wiggins
CT