Avoid Pinkwashing!

What is Pink Washing? When a company or organization claims to care about breast cancer by promoting a pink ribbon product, but at the same time produces, manufactures and/or sells products that are linked to the disease. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

• THINK before you pink! Stop buying pink products that have a long checklist of tasks to do before a donation is made – make the donation YOURSELF to an organization YOU trust!
• Donate your own money to local breast cancer funds to ensure your money is entering the right hands and that your donation will benefit your community. Keep spreading awareness!

Before you buy a pink ribbon product, ASK:

• Does any money from this purchase go to a specific breast cancer program?
• To whom and how much? (“I don’t know…to breast cancer, I guess” is not an acceptable answer)
• Is the group reputable? (Check Charity Navigator!)
• Do any of the proceeds benefit local groups?
• Is there a “cap” on the amount that will be donated? How will the public know when this cap has been reached?
• Does this purchase expose you or your loved ones to toxins (pthalates, parabens, preservatives, pesticides, formaldehyde) that have been linked to breast cancer?

IF YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ANSWERS TO THESE QUESTIONS:

• Let the store clerk know why the purchase makes you uncomfortable. Educate!
• Write a letter to the company asking for clarification about the products ingredients.
• Write a letter asking the company to be transparent about its donations.
• Consider giving directly to the LOCAL breast cancer organization whose work you believe is most essential to addressing the breast cancer epidemic or providing direct support services to survivors.