More and more, consumers are making environmentally friendly choices in the purchases that they make. They are actively seeking out organic foods, avoiding dangerous chemicals in products, and looking for energy-efficient appliances. On Earth Day 2005, with grants from the Surdna Foundation and the Foundation of Donor Advised Funds, Consumers Union expanded upon its longstanding, public-service commitment to consumers by launching GreenerChoices.org, a free guide that offers reliable and practical advice on how to be a more environmentally-friendly consumer. This site will also include information from our Eco-labels.org free site, that evaluates the meaning of dozens of environmental labels on food, wood, personal care products and household cleaners.
GreenerChoices.org will launch beginning with a dozen products across several categories, including electronics, appliances, home & garden, autos and food. There will also be a “green ratings” section for many products covered, which provides ratings of a product's energy, water and fuel efficiency performance. GreenerChoices.org also provides environmental and health assessments for various food products including meat and fish.
The site includes information on large scale environmental issues concerning energy, climate change, agriculture, waste and dangerous substances and connects these larger issues to the products people buy. Consumers will also find tools such as energy calculators, rebate information, food label meanings as well as links to information about local energy, recycling and sewage treatment services.
Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, is an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization that provides unbiased, assessments and advice about products and services, personal finance, health and nutrition, and other issues affecting consumers. Consumers Union, in conjunction with GreenerChoices.org, is committed to maintaining its independence and impartiality by accepting no commercial contributions, no outside advertising and no free test samples. Consumers Union relies solely on the sale of its information products and services (such as subscriptions to Consumer Reports), individual contributions, and specific types of noncommercial grants.
