Greenshopper gives consumers “green” choices
Tuesday, January 15th, 2008“It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on not understanding it.”
-Upton Sinclair
The quote above inspired the creation of a website called Greenshopper, which is a self-described, “environmental super store and online community for green shoppers.” Founded in 2006 by Zachary Bouchard, the site aims to provide a one-stop location for those who wish to buy environmentally friendly products. The site fills a growing need in the e-commerce world by allowing users to research and buy green products.
The website links to over 200 companies which manufacture organic or green products. While other smaller sites of this type exist, Greenshopper has successfully negotiated a partnership with Amazon which allows them to offer online ordering and shipping through the retail giant in exchange for a percentage of the profits. Their relationship with Amazon enables customers to use existing Amazon accounts to buy at good prices and Amazon’s reliable shipping to receive products quickly. As Greenshopper’s FAQs point out, Amazon is estimated to have a lower ecological footprint than other retailers because they ship directly from manufacturers to customers without the middleman of a brick-and-mortar store.
Greenshopper’s products are carefully vetted to make sure they meet customers’ expectations. They aim to include products which are pesticide-free, made from recycled materials, and/or organic (i.e. cotton, bamboo, hemp, etc.). They also include products which are designed to reduce energy consumption, like weatherization products and low-energy light bulbs. The website explains, “A light bulb by itself is not necessarily made from sustainable materials, but it reduces our coal burning fossil fuel consumption and is the best current green alternative.” The team at Greenshopper individually selects the products featured on the site to offer the latest technologies that reduce our impact on the environment.
In addition to featuring environmentally friendly products, Greenshopper provides funding for various environmental groups. They currently donate 10% of all profits to environmental groups with different focuses each month. Founder Zachary Bouchard makes it clear that the site has no specific political affiliations: “The environment should not be a partisan political issue, as it doesn’t matter if you are a democrat, republican, independent, green party, etc - we all have to have a habitable planet to even be able to discuss politics in the first place!” As the site continues to succeed, Bouchard plans to donate a larger percentage of the profits to environmental charities.
Greenshopper subscribes to the “vote with your dollars” philosophy, meaning that every choice we make as consumers is means by which to influence policy. If we support businesses who produce sustainable products, we are encouraging other businesses to change their environmental policies. Greenshopper’s website argues, “By buying green, we not only protect these ecosystems with our purchase, we expand the reach of the green movement, pushing it towards the mainstream”. Indeed, the website’s partnership with Amazon does bring green consumerism to the mainstream of online purchasing, and other businesses will follow their lead.
But what about the prices, you might ask? To those who complain that green products are more expensive, Bouchard’s service offers a means by which to trade the financial bottom line for the green bottom line. Besides, by fomenting competition among green products and companies, your purchase will also drive down prices and create a more competitive market where consumers can demand lower cost, more eco-friendly goods.
By Haley January Eckels
