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For a girl who spends a lotta time on the internet blogging, I really don't do much online shopping. Part of it's because I live by the reduce, reuse enviro-mantra, and part of it's because I'm all about supporting the local economy -- and that means turning off the computer and hitting the farmers' market or eco-friendly shops near me.
Still, many would-be green shoppers don't live in an eco-friendly town like I do -- and have legitimate needs for good green goods!
Enter thepurblebook green: an eco-friendly online shopping guide. This lil book by Hillary Mendelsohn's a user-friendly guide to online eco-friendly stores. thepurplebook green begins with some greening advice on everything from eco-burials to bamboo clothing. Then, 400+ store listings -- keyed with little helpful symbols denoting fair trade practices, recycled materials, and the like -- begin.
Somewhat inconveniently, the listings are arranged alphabetically by URL -- though there is a product index in the back to help you out if you're just looking for shoe stores. And while a little green flower marks the shops that really are eco-committed, thepurplebook green also lists a bunch of big mainstream stores like Amazon, drugstore.com, and -- yikes! -- Wal-Mart -- simply because they do carry a teeny percentage of eco-goods.
Conversely, some great green stores aren't listed. The eco-fashion-forward stores like Modify and Nimli don't make a showing -- nor do the very established fair trade and eco-friendly stores at Global Exchange and Ten Thousand Villages.
Still, thepurplebook green provides a good overview of what green goods're available over the big green web. And Hillary's heart seems to be in the right place: "18 months ago I sat in a dark theater at the Arclight watching Al Gore and tried to wrap my head around what I could do in my own life to make better choices, and how I could encourage others," Hillary says. thepurplebook green was her answer.
As far as I know, thepurplebook green is the only web-focused eco yellowpages-type book in print. Other green directories include:
>> Co-op Amerca's National Green Pages -- That's available both in print and on the web, but the listings often include businesses focused just on the local economy, which isn't terribly helpful if you're into web shopping.
>> Greenopia -- These green local listings are great if you live in LA or San Francisco, but are definitely not geared toward web shoppers, even though some of the local stores listed do have an online presence.
thepurplebook green's available for $11.95 from Amazon. You can read Hillary's shopping tips and tricks on Maria Rizzi and Heather Fields's blog Check It Out, and Hillary's tips for a happy Boss's day on SFist. Also check out Victoria Everman's review of the book on Sustainablog.
BlogHer Contributing Editor Siel also blogs for the Los Angeles Times at Emerald City, and at greenLAgirl.com.