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A few weeks ago, we published an article about an up-and-coming website called Greenshopper.com. This unique business allows environmentally-friendly shoppers to locate green alternatives to their everyday purchases. Consumers who want to make socially responsible purchases can find everything from organic shampoo to hemp swimwear. The driving force behind this project is Zachary Bouchard, who founded Greenshopper.com after a successful career in financial services. I had a chance to speak with this remarkable 27-year old entrepreneur about his business and his passion for our planet.

Bouchard was focusing on responsible green investing when he decided to write a book about how to make good consumer choices that would reduce your environmental impact. “I had read forty or fifty books on the subject, and the research for my book developed into the foundations of the website,” he said. Bouchard had done some small website projects during his investment banking career, and his interest in web development coupled with the programming expertise of his stepfather led him to pursue Greenshopper full-time.

The philosophy that drives Bouchard is ‘vote with your dollars.’ He argues, “Capitalism is an essentially democratic process, probably more democratic than our two-party system. You have only two choices for president, but you have thousands of choices for every product that you buy.” It’s a compelling idea, and Greenshopper hopes to show people that it’s possible to influence the market by “voting” for environmentally-friendly companies. The website’s FAQ sections explains how it works: “Every purchase of a green product or service increases the demand for that product, making it more appealing for other companies to produce a similar, sustainable product.” By supporting eco-friendly products, shoppers can push responsible products to the mainstream and create a demand for items that do not contribute to the climate crisis.

He speaks with a passion and an urgency about our need to stop the climate change which threatens the planet. “Every ecosystem on Earth is on the verge of collapse, and what the politicians are proposing isn’t going to work. Small steps work on an individual level, but politically we need big steps.” His goal is to reach out shoppers who are just beginning to change their habits. “Our target market is people who are on the fringe, just starting to worry about the environment.” He stresses that the little things, like walking or biking instead of driving or swapping old light bulbs for energy efficient models, has the potential to make a huge impact.

To reach these consumers, Bouchard engineered an affiliate deal with Amazon.com, which allows customers to access the best green products from retailers all over the country. “Our ‘buy online’ section opens directly into your Amazon account, and we get credit for every purchase.” Amazon gives Greenshopper a cut of all sales, though Bouchard declines to reveal the exact percentage. He’s very excited about an upgrade to the site that will allow consumers to find local green businesses. “We want to be the one-stop shop for buying green, locally and online. Our customers will soon be able to find local green businesses that aren’t necessarily sold directly though Greenshopper or Amazon. This will reduce the environmental impact of shipping and allow local businesses to reach responsible shoppers in their areas.”

Other plans for the website include discussion forums and product suggestions, which will enable the community at Greenshopper to suggest new products that should be available on the site or identify products that should not be included. Bouchard has not yet conducted any national advertising for Greenshopper, though as their revenues increase and site’s design improves, he expects to see growth. As the revenue grows, so will Greenshopper’s philanthropic efforts; at present 10% of all their profits are donated to environmental organizations, and he hopes to up that number in the future.

To those who say that the younger generations are apathetic and uninvolved, I would point to Bouchard as an example of someone who has committed his life to a worthy cause. He is a true believer, and it is his hope for change that drives him to influence others. “When you start to understand the real problems we face, it can be scary and overwhelming. You have to have a tremendous amount of hope which overcomes the panic you sometimes feel.” While the problems our planet faces are indeed daunting, Bouchard is doing his part to educate the public and make it as simple as clicking a mouse to do the right thing.

Friday, February 1st, 2008 Both comments and pings are currently closed.

By Haley January Eckels