I must admit that I am still completely amazed at the idea that this little book (The Better World Shopping Guide) has sold over 100,000 copies! I am deeply inspired when I think of the tens of thousands of people who have decided that our time has come to apply the lessons of democracy to our economy.
After surviving near financial meltdown, devastating oil spills, and enormous bank bailouts, we're finally beginning to understand the deep connection between our economic and our political lives. To bring about real change, we'll need some powerful tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Isn't it more important to buy less stuff rather than worry about the kind of stuff we're buying?
Both are equally important. As we've learned from the voluntary simplicity movement, we must reduce our quantity of consumption if we are to have any reasonable future. At the same time, we must increase the quality of our consumption so that every dollar spent helps build a better tomorrow rather than bring about its destruction.
What if I don't have access to or can't afford many of the products that receive 'A' ratings”
Don't give up! It's important to choose the best option available to you depending on your location and resources, both of which will likely change many times in your life. Sometimes the choice is between a 'C' brand and an 'F' brand, and that is just as important a choice to make. Remember, as with voting, there is always a choice to be made, imperfect as it may be.
Isn't this 'buying green' just something to make us feel better rather than something that will actually lead to real change?
No. Trillions of dollars circulate in the global economy, driven primarily by consumers. These are our dollars that are shaping the fate of this world, and we must begin taking responsibility for their collective impact. Dollars (like votes) add up very quickly and can lead to powerful changes in both the short and long term.
Shouldn't we be voting, demonstrating, and organizing within our political system?
Yes. We need to bring transparency, accountability and responsibility to both our political AND economic systems. If we address only one, our efforts will ultimately fail. So, do not use this guide as an excuse to shift focus away from our political problems – the two go hand in hand.
THE TOP 10 THINGS TO CHANGE
If you want to begin with the changes that will make the most difference for people and the planet, start with these ten things:
- BANK
- GASOLINE
- SUPERMARKET
- RETAIL STORES
- CAR
- SEAFOOD
- CHOCOLATE
- COFFEE / TEA
- CREDIT CARDS
- CLEANING PRODUCTS
THE 20 BEST LIST
Rankings are based on overall social and environmental records
-
Seventh Generation
-
Method
-
Organic Valley
-
Patagonia
-
Equal Exchange
-
Alter Eco
-
Dr. Bronner's
-
Traditional Medicinals
-
Eo Bodycare
-
Clif Bar
-
New Belgium Brewing
-
G Diapers
-
Dansko
-
King Arthur Flour
-
Eden Foods
-
Earth Friendly
-
Maggie's Organics
-
Nature's Path
-
Working Assets
-
Divine Chocolate
THE 20 WORST LIST
Rankings are based on overall social and environmental records
-
Exxon-Mobil
-
Kraft (& Altria)
-
Walmart
-
General Electric
-
General Motors
-
Chevron-Texaco
-
Nestle
-
Pfizer
-
Verizon
-
Citibank
-
AIG
-
Blue Cross / Blue Shield
-
Archer Daniels Midland
-
Microsoft
-
Dow Chemical
-
Proctor & Gamble
-
Hoffmann-La Roche
-
Bank of America
-
Georgia Pacific (Koch)
-
Tyson Foods
THE 10 SMALL BUT BEAUTIFUL LIST
The list includes 10 small companies you may not have heard of that are true social and environmental leaders in their industries.
1. SHOREBANK PACIFIC
2. NEW LEAF PAPER
3. GUAYAKI
4. BETTER WORLD TELECOM
5. NUMI TEA
6. ALTER ECO
7. RECYCLINE (PRESERVE)
8. EQUAL EXCHANGE
9. TEN THOUSAND VILLAGES
10. BETTER WORLD CLUB
Let's Reclaim Our Democracy
If you are interested in more specifics on how individual companies are rated, and exactly what is taken into account, you can visit the website, http://betterworldshopper.org/. It also contains updated ranking, direct links to resources, and new product categories that have been added since the writing of this guide.
One other note that may be of interest to some of you is the release of an iPhone App called “Better World Shopper” based on the same data. While it does not provide all of the useful information you'll find in this book, it does give you instant access to all of the rankings. Having this information at your fingertips can turn out to be really useful, particularly when you forget to bring the book with you!
©2012 by Ellis Jones. All Rights Reserved.
Reprinted with permission of the publisher,
New Society Publishers. http://newsociety.com
This article was adapted with permission from the book:
The Better World Shopping Guide: Every Dollar Makes a Difference
by Ellis Jones.
Now in its fourth edition, The Better World Shopping Guide is the most comprehensive guide available for socially and environmentally responsible consumers. Drawing on over 25 years of research, this perennial bestseller rates every product on the shelf from A to F so you can quickly tell the "good guys" from the "bad guys" — turning your grocery list into a powerful tool to change the world. Drawing on decades of meticulous research, this completely revised and updated fourth edition will help you find out which companies actually "walk the talk" when it comes to: Environmental sustainability; Human rights; Community involvement; Animal protection; Social justice. Small enough to fit in a back pocket or handbag and organized in a user-friendly format, The Better World Shopping Guide will help you change the world as you shop.
Click here for more info and/or to order this book.
About the Author
Ellis Jones, PhD, is the award-winning, best-selling author ofThe Better World Shopping Guide and The Better World Handbook. A scholar of social responsibility, global citizenship, and ethical consumerism, Ellis has dedicated himself to uncovering practical ways for people to make a difference in the world. He currently teaches in the Department of Sociology at Holy Cross College. http://betterworldshopper.org/