Better World

I found Better World Shopper while hanging out at the local bookstore this evening. The idea--to provide people with a comprehensive and reliable account of the social and environmental responsibility of companies around the world--was created by a teacher at UC Davis and he has rated companies in hundreds of categories on a simple A to F grading scale, like this:

I am happy to report that I receive an A for the technology I use, the water I drink, and the ice cream I like, although the gas I buy and the crap I wash my hair with both receive a C mark.

It will be interesting to see how my grades change in the coming months. Davis is highly socially and environmentally responsible and there is not a Mall or a Walmart or a Target or a Costco in town.

A friend of mine, Drew, who attended UC Davis, joked that you had to drive out of town to buy a pair of underwear. And he's pretty much correct. Sure, you can buy high-end home goods, a Starbucks Coffee, couture clothing, an Electra cruiser, and lots of A+ rated goods, but you have to drive 15 miles to the next town to get a pair of panties.

Comments

[janet]

I so love these. Definitely bookmarking them.

It seems like a lot of companies get lumped in the C grade. That must mean they don't know as much about them? Neither good nor bad or perhaps just unknown?

[cupcake]

This reminds me of the book, "Cradle to Cradle," which is a fantastic look into how things are made and how they could be made so they have no environmental impact whatsoever. The Better World Shopper definitely is eye opening. More people need to be aware of what they reach for while shopping.

UC Davis sounds like an awesome school.

[Janelle]

Well, there is a Gottschalk's if you want to venture into there. But yeah, I generally went to Sacramento or Woodland for my panties.

[Perfectly Plump Preppy]

Thanks for this website. If you are interested check out the Make Trade Fair website.

[Nicole]

That is a great find! I want to check out all the things I'm buying and using. And just let me tell you how jealous I am to hear the descriptions of your new town, it sounds perfect. Can't wait to hear all about it as things unfold.

[Kori]

I love my Electra cruiser...

[Laura]

I think it would be environmentally responsible for a city to have underwear available for purchase within walking distance. Kind of ironic - driving all those miles, using all that gas, just to get underwear.

[Leah]

interestingly, a lot of urban planners mention "ability to buy underwear" as the hallmark of a truly functional, vital downtown. About the only cities I know where you can buy underwear downtown are the ones with a mall smack dab in the middle of the city. I live in Ann Arbor, MI, and you can buy underwear downtown if you're willing to buy really nice stuff.