How pink is pink?

What is Pink washing?

The term was coined in 2002 by a grassroots advocacy group called Breast Cancer Action.

Pink washing is when a company promotes itself as a leader in breast cancer awareness, while at the same time taking actions and sells products that may be contributing to breast cancer. They slap a pink ribbon on a pink box and sell a product to a consumer who is given the impression that the product and company are promoting awareness and raising funds for research. Ironically some of the ingredients, many of which are not even disclosed in the ingredients list, may be found to be toxic, questionable, or unevaluated for safety.

What are you doing to raise breast cancer awareness during the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM)?

Don’t buy something just because it’s pink. It may have been pink washed. Do your due diligence when it comes to shopping and donating. Has the company merely chosen packaging and marketing to make you feel good about your purchase? Find out how much of the purchase price is being donated to what organization and if the company has put a cap on the donation amount? The pink ribbon doesn’t even guarantee there are any donations being made at all.

Breast cancer awareness, research, advocacy, and support for those affected are all VERY important things to focus on. We each do our part in a different way. If you are able to help fund donations you might want to consider donating the money directly to an established organization that wins your approval. Donate to an organization that supports the cause. Money is needed for research to find out more about causes, prevention, and treatment of breast cancer.

If you were planning on buying something anyways, by all means by a pink one that donates some of the proceeds. Just be sure it isn’t pink washed. Don’t let companies get by with cashing out on a cause.

For more information on a project by Breast Cancer Action, please visit http://thinkbeforeyoupink.org/