The Green Consumer

Changing Buying Habits to Encourage Green Businesses

Nov 17, 2006 Shirley Siluk Gregory

A guide to online resources to help consumers make informed, greener decisions about the companies they buy from.

Part of living green is making informed consumer choices that support sustainable, environmentally friendly business models.

Why? You help make the world a little more green by eating organic foods, using chemical-free household products and growing your own vegetables. But you can have an even greater impact if you also buy those organics, household products and gardening supplies from companies that are actively working to conserve natural resources, fight global warming and build a better, greener world for the future.

Buying green is by no means always easy. Sometimes, the green alternative is harder to find or more expensive. Sometimes, it's just not available at all. But anytime you can make an informed, green choice, you send the message to that manufacturer or producer that you value a sustainable, eco-friendly philosophy. The more all of us can do that, the more likely it is we'll see more green products and more environmentally friendly companies in the future.

How do you decide which companies and products are green? The Internet is probably your best guide, because that's where you'll find information that's updated daily and easily checked against other sources with a few clicks of your mouse. Consider these resources as you look for ways to boost your green consumer power:

EcoMall (http://ecomall.com/): EcoMall bills itself as a "one-stop natural goods portal." It's also one of the 'Net's oldest and largest green-business portals.
National Green Pages (http://www.coopamerica.org/pubs/greenpages/): A project of Co-op America, the National Green Pages offers a searchable online database of nearly 3,000 business committed to "sustainable, socially just principles, including the support of sweatshop-free labor, organic farms, fair trade, and cruelty-free products."
Pristine Planet Eco-Friendly Comparison Shopping (http://pristineplanet.com/): A "virtual "green" shopping mall," PristinePlanet.com lists green providers of everything from books to chocolate to household appliances and commercial cleaning supplies.
Responsible Shopper (http://www.responsibleshopper.org): A project of Co-op America, Responsible Shopper provides "global research and campaign information regarding the impact of major corporations on human rights, social justice, environmental sustainability and more."
SustainableBusiness.com (http://sustainablebusiness.com/): SustainableBusiness.com acts as an "Internet community for businesses that integrate economic, and social and environmental concerns into their core strategy. In short, we help green business grow."

The copyright of the article The Green Consumer in Green/Simple Living is owned by Shirley Siluk Gregory. Permission to republish The Green Consumer in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.