A true green product utilizes ingredients from nature. The focus is on integrating sustainable and organic materials as much as possible, instead of having to create synthetic materials, which increases waste, uses energy, and depletes resources.
Another criteria is the use of eco-friendly, specialized packaging. The use of less packaging, recycled materials, and recyclable materials for packaging is essential for a product to truly be green.
True green products are also made of ingredients that are safe for people, animals and the environment. For example, conventional cotton contributes chemicals to the environment during production, and to the consumer during use. Organic cotton and other natural textiles on the other hand are free from toxins. This is good for the people wearing and sleeping on them, but also for the environment as no chemicals are utilized in the growth of the fibers.
Some of the products made at eco-friendly factories are also made of recycled materials, such as metal from electronics and plastics from a variety of other products. This helps prevent excess waste from being added into the environment.
According to Jeffrey Hollander, the CEO of Seventh Generation, the only way to know for sure whether your products meet true green requirements is to look at the ingredients. If an item you are purchasing does not list all of its ingredients, do not purchase it.
What are the benefits of using green products? Buying an eco-friendly product you have the item that you need, for a minimal cost to the earth. Each purchase may yield small benefits, such as a little less energy used or pollution created, but if everyone started practicing eco-conscious shopping, what a difference it would make!
What is the green products definition? Look for items that are created with eco-friendly means, that are as natural as possible, that minimize packaging or that use eco-friendly packaging materials, that are safe for you and the environment, that use recycled materials in production, and perhaps most importantly of all, portray all of this information clearly rather than deceptively insinuating 'greenness.' This is what truly green means.
Sources
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-eco-friendly.htm
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/environment/july-dec08/greengoods_08-15.html