Better World Shopper

[hippywife]

I heard this guy being interviewed on our local NPR affiliate and hunted down his website. He's done all the research out there on which companies/brands are better to buy from based on several criteria such as the environment, human rights, etc. and put it all together in one small, easy to use and carry book. I ordered the book. It's very well organized with the brands broken down into categories on the left page with grades from A+ to F, and on the right page he tells you why the top and bottom ones earned the ratings they did. He gives you guidelines for buying brands that are maybe regional and not listed in his book and has a place for notes in the back. So, say I want to try to remember which store has what product and the price, I can mark it down and have it for comparison.

There are also categories on which fish are sustainably harvested and okay to eat and which are in danger (I think he said he got that info from the website of the Monterey Bay Aquarium who is one of the better known sources of that info.)

Anyway, I thought I would share it with all of you in case you are interested:
http://betterworldshopper.com/

:hi:

[NMDemDist2]

1. wow! Costco gets a "D" in supermarkets

:wow:

http://betterworldshopper.com/r-supermarkets.html

[hippywife]

2. I left my book in the car.

Hold on and I'll go get it. Does the website say why? I really didn't look around much there because I had already heard the interview and just wanted to order the book.

BRB!

On edit: I forgot that the book only gives you the justification for the ratings on the best and the worst so it doesn't say, but it has to have something to do with how they rate in the five categories.

[NMDemDist2]

3. i don't think so

i did post the link tho....

:hi:

[hippywife]

4. Well, here is the general explanation

of why something qualifies for a D rating: These engage in practices that have significant negative impacts on people and the planet.

[hippywife]

5. Okay. I researched the website and found

a list of the sources for the book. I went to Responsible Shopper's website from there, did a search for Costco and found this:

http://www.coopamerica.org/programs/responsibleshopper/company.cfm?id=207

• Costco is a wholesale warehouse retailer with more than 490 membership stores throughout the world, which carry a wide selection of bulk products ranging from food to books to household appliances.

• Costco employees enjoy high wages, the average is $15.97 an hour, and health benefits, including a health care coverage rate of 82 percent.

• Costco has been sued for gender discrimination, sexual harrassment, and providing customers with expired rebates.

• The big-box nature of Costco takes a toll on the environment and society by contributing to sprawl, and some of Costco's location choices have sparked fierce opposition for affecting places with rich cultural heritage and ecologically sensitivity.

• Go Green and explore alternative locally owned stores.

-- Profile Updated 06/12/2008

There are more detailed alerts and articles below that on the same page.

[NMDemDist2]

6. interesting

thanks!!

that's a great little resource, thanks for turning us on to it

:yourock:

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

7. Thanks for the link.

While I disagree with the Costco rating, this is very handy. I'll definitely try to purchase products that get at least a B rating. Hard sometimes, since some of the products aren't (IMO) as good, but everything being equal or close to, I'd rather buy from and A or B than a C, D or F.

[hippywife]

8. After reading some of the alerts

at responsible shopper regarding Costco, I don't have any doubts about it really. But then we don't have them here so I don't have to worry about it.

When we made the decision years ago to stop shopping WalMart, we found that there are trade offs to be made, and while it wasn't pleasant at first, changing the way we cook and eat went a long way in taking care of any quality issues.

The recent talk of sourdough starters has gotten me to thinking that would be the A+ solution where bread is concerned so I don't have to buy yeast. Economical, too.

I have a really good time with the challenge of find work arounds to what the corporate world throws at us.

Glad you find the link useful. Every little bit helps. :hi:

Edit to add: It's not an overnight process making these changes, it's an evolution over time. I like that he gives you the things that are the easiest and most important to change.

As the cover of the book says: Every dollar makes a difference. Every dollar you spend is a vote for the world you want to live in.