Are you as confused as I am about all the green claims for products these days?

Manufacturers have found it’s chic to be green, but since because there is no federal regulation of the term we can’t always be sure it’s true.

One of the best guides to what is green and what is hype is the October/November issue of ShopSmart, a hip shopping guide from the publisher of Consumer Reports. “Smart Green Shopping for Your Home” concludes that “not all so-called green home goods are worth the money, or even particularly green.”

The magazine reporters checked out wood furniture and cabinets, flooring, paint, carpet, accessories, light bulbs, appliances, sheets and towels and household cleaning products.

Here are a few of their suggestions:

Sheets and towels may say 100 percent organic on the label, but that only means the growing methods were pesticide free. They still may be treated with formaldehyde and chlorine bleach or blended with synthetics such as polyester. If the tag just says “natural” or “green” it may still have been chemically treated because there are no federal standards for the labeling.

Look for paints with the GreenSeal sticker (greenseal.org) that sets standards for echo-friendly goods to help you identify paints with low volatile organic compounds. VOCs give off fumes that are thought to be carcinogenic and can cause irritation of eyes, nose and throat.

Consider Pier 1’s new line of hand-painted, recycled glass bowls and vases that sell for $15-$35. The issue is on newsstands now.

C.V.S.

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