October 7, 1999 | Read Time: 1 minute
Two new Web sites cater to consumers who want to buy socially and environmentally responsible products. Both plan to donate part of their proceeds to charity.
EthicalShopper.com, a Los Angeles company, uses a detailed questionnaire to determine whether companies that want to sell products through the site meet its standards for corporate responsibility. The questionnaire covers a wide range of topics, such as benefits the company offers its employees, whether its products are made from recycled materials, and whether the company has a policy in place to screen its suppliers’ environmental practices.
The Web site sells clothing, personal and household items, and food, and offers customers the opportunity to make on-line donations to selected charities. The company also plans to donate 10 per cent of its profits to charities chosen by its board.
Shoppers at Care2.com can purchase items from both mainstream and environmentally oriented retailers through the Web site. The Menlo Park, Cal., company donates 10 per cent of its revenue to Defenders of Wildlife, the Environmental Defense Fund, Friends of the National Zoo, and the National Wildlife Federation, and allows its members to vote on what proportion of the money should go to each group.
To get there: Go to http://www.ethicalshopper.com and http://www.care2.com.
