Environment, Organics, Fair Trade & Recycling at Big Green Purse

Washington, D.C. Woman Shifts $1,029 of Her Household Budget to Go Green

It's one thing to say you want to be "eco friendly." It's quite another to put your money where your mouth is and spend real dollars on greener products and services, especially in these days of tight budgets and an uncertain economy.

Yet that's exactly what Bonnie C., a 26-year old resident of Washington, D.C., has done. Bonnie is single, lives in an apartment, and works for the U.S. Government. Here's her story:

"I read a blog post of yours last year encouraging readers to redirect $1000 in spending to green purchases.  This really struck me, and I decided to try it.  I hit $1000 in December when I installed my own programmable thermostat.  Here's how I did it:

BONNIE'S BIG GREEN SHIFTS

Used furniture (sofa, dining table, patio table, TV, TV cabinet): $340, but the TV and cabinet were free!

 Used Bike: $250

Garden Plot, tools, soil: $200

Organic Food: $75

Glass food containers: $40

Organic Body Products: $5 (but I've only run out of toothpaste, so I expect this number to grow)

No VOC Paint: $40

CFL Lightbulbs: $20

Green Cleaning Products: $25

Programmable Thermostat: $34

Total: $1029

Even though I live in an apartment, I installed the thermostat and painted - I'll change them back when I move out.

I think it's also interesting to note that most of these purchases saved me money.  I'm 26, and I don't have a large budget to reallocate, but by buying used items, I must have saved hundreds.  The lightbulbs and thermostat will save me money, AND I don't have to get out of bed in a cold house!  I also bought a fuel-efficient Honda Fit that gets about 34 mpg on average for my typical commute, but 37-38 on long road trips.

This year I'm planning to shift more spending towards food and beauty products.  I'm also trying to get a roommate, which will not only cut down on expenses, but house 2 people using about the same energy as 1.

Most of these were really easy changes, but I'm still getting over sticker shock of organic food and beauty products.

Changing out the thermostat was surprisingly easy.  Yes, there were tons of poorly labeled wires, but we followed the directions carefully and it only took about 30 minutes.

Next I'm looking for a roommate!  I'm also going to try to get into composting.  And I'll keep migrating to better food and beauty products."

Bonnie's also going to keep working on her boyfriend, who was helpful if skeptical. "He was reluctant at first," she says, "but had a positive view after we finished those projects (installing the thermostat and setting up the garden plot)."  I'm still trying to get him into better toiletries and food, but he was a quick sell on green cleaning products!"

Thanks for blogging and motivating me!"
Bonnie

As Bonnie knows, every dollar you shift makes a difference. The way you spend your money is your first line of defense against products that contain toxic ingredients or waste energy. Just as importantly, buying "green" encourages companies to reduce pollution and use water and other natural resources with greater care. Plus, choosing more environmental options often saves you money immediately. For all these reasons, the Big Green Purse One in a Million campaign inspires people to set a goal of shifting at least $1,000 of money they'd spend anyway on the most environmentally-friendly products available.

Thousands of people have already committed to shifting their spending. Why don't you? You can sign up here.

For more inspiring stories like Bonnie's, start here.

How about a Goal instead of a Resolution – Like Shifting $1,000 to Greener Products and Services

I’d like to applaud you if you’re making 2011 New Year’s Resolutions to live a greener life, I really would.

But how many “resolutions” have you made over the years? And – be honest, now – how many have you actually kept?

The truth is,resolutions are as easy to abandon as they are to embrace. Yes, they’re noble. They may even be inspiring. But do they usually work?

No. They’re just too vague, too lofty; they leave too much wiggle room. And if there’s anything the planet doesn’t need more of, it’s wiggle room!

That’s why, rather than make resolutions this year, I hope you’ll consider setting a specific goal. Something not just to aim for, but to surpass. A benchmark. A way you can prove to yourself that you’re actually DOING something. Making a difference.

If you've been reading this blog for a while, you know that I’d like that goal to be about how you spend your money. In fact, I’d like to encourage you to set a specific goal of shifting at least $1,000 of your normal household budget to the greenest products and services available: no-VOC paints, BPA-free bottles, energy-efficient cars or mass transit, organic food. You get the idea. The “green” version of what you buy anyway.

Why does it matter?

She Put $1,000 of Her Money Where Her (Eco) Mouth Is

It's easy to say you want to do something to protect the planet. Actually doing it is another matter altogether - unless you're Fredia Banks. Not only did this Washington, D.C. resident launch a non-profit organization to promote sustainability in the nation's capital. She took our One in a Million challenge to show people how spending their money makes a difference.

Fredia created the House of Green organization to "encourage residents and business owners (of the District of Columbia) to embrace environmentally-friendly lifestyle alternatives as a solution for sustainability." The organization offers workshops, connects consumers to green products, and helps raise awareness about green businesses that are operating in the District of Columbia.

She was inspired to shift her spending because she wanted to "live healthy and elmininate toxins" in her lifestyle. Fredia says that the increasing availability of products where she shops and online is making shifting her spending easier than she'd anticipated. However, the challenge is determining what's organic and what's not, especially for products that are not food, but still claim to be organic.

In the future, Fredia plans to put solar collectors on her home and replace her current vehicle with one that is more environmentally friendly. Meanwhile, the House of Green will continue to share Fredia's knowledge with D.C. residents.  

How Fredia Shifted $1,000 in 2 Months:

New Yorker Shifts to Green, Saves More Than $10K

Our latest One in a Million member is Nancy, an Episcopal priest and practicing psychologist who lives in central New York state. The One in a Million campaign encourages people to shift $1,000 of their household budget to greener products and services. I was amazed to learn how Nancy has shifted so much she is actually saved more than $10,000 without feeling deprived. Here's her story.
 
What inspired you to make so many "green" changes in your life? My doctoral studies were in MindBody medicine and holistic healing...which led directly to my first change: become a vegetarian(1991)—which reversed bone loss. In the intervening years I continued to study, teach courses, and give lectures and workshops on holistic healing and spirituality. My studies and workshop presentations expanded in 2005 after I learned about the known health risks associated with land fills at a meeting of the local chapter for the League of Women Voters. The local land fill had expanded despite opposition and was (and is again) asking to expand.
 
Troubled by the evidence, I began reading about recycling, which led me to studies about plastics, cleaning agents, bath and body care, cosmetics, and, surprisingly, food safety and how they affected human health and the environment.  The readily available evidence was, and remains, shocking and deeply distressing.  I believe that all of us need to be more conscious of the factors which affect our health and over which we can chose to  have control, with our voices,  pocket book, and votes. As a person living with a life-long disability I felt that, based on this new learning, I had a responsibility to act on it by making conscious choices about my life and health as I move toward retirement and continued aging! That led to my second change: I became a vegan, eating only organic foods at home, and have reaped more health benefits than I imagined possible. No more antibiotics and hormones I didn’t chose, need or want; no more insecticides and pesticides bred into Genetically Engineered foods—as  far as I can determine and choose; reading labels to avoid corn derivatives and high fructose.

All of this learning, alongside continued growth and new learning in my spirituality and prayer life, led me to my third change: a decision to become conscious and present to the world and nature around me, as well as to family, friends, and neighbors. All of life breathes the same air, is exposed to the same water, and shares the consequences of toxins in the land fill. The very least I could do was to avoid adding toxic, disposable, meaningless stuff or organic garbage, leading to my fourth change: changing my patterns of consumption, understanding the what and why of every purchase. Suddenly you see the stuff that clutters home, office, car and life.  Stuff that wastes financial resources and generally obscures the meaning or purpose of one’s life. De-cluttering is a lesson in letting go and led to my fifth change, saving money as my shopping habits changed.

Are your choices for you alone or for a household? I live alone but children and grandchildren visit often. They know the routine -- I have posted a list of what items go in the paper basket, the compost pail, the small garbage basket, the shredder and the recycling can (in kitchen). The cleaning woman, handy man, and lawn person know what does where in garage containers each week.

What was harder than you thought? Eating out with NO dairy products. My experience has been that the majority of  restaurants, chefs, and cooks in small cities are not well-informed or prepared to serve vegetarians and vegans.

What was easier? The absolute easiest thing was simply adding each new change as I came to it and then living into it.  I have a savings account for my ‘annual savings,’ which I use for life-giving organic foods, addressing needs (recreation, retreat, play) instead of wants, and enjoying a healthier and more purposeful life!  
 
What's next? These changes are part of a spiritual journey that I hope will continue to evolve and deepen.  I hope my example or words will save at least one person and one child from the toxic effects known to exist in our environment, water, food, and products we consume or purchase in blind faith.  My greatest hope is that in the near future, Americans will take to the streets and demand accountability of corporations and government agencies for safe food and water, and non-toxic, renewable and sustainable products.   If we dream GREEN, we will become GREEN!

Nancy's Green practices explained with savings:

Florida Resident Shifts $1,137 to Organic Foods, Native Plants & Worm Poop

Worm poop? It's not as crazy as it sounds (see post below). Worm castings (as they're more delicately called) make great organic fertilzer. They're also a terrific choice if you're looking for ways to shift your spending to greener products and services -- in this case, away from concentrated agricultural chemicals and towards all-natural soil amendments. That's just one of the choices Kimberly Button of Orlando made when she joined the Big Green Purse One in a Million campaign. What about others?

Well, Kim also started buying more organic chocolates and tea (who can blaim her?), organic groceries,and organically-based personal care products like body lotions and shampoos. She printed her business cards on recycled paper and bought recycled envelopes, too. Plus, she bought a re-usable stainless steel lunch container so she could forego plastic bags or takeout boxes. All told, she shifted more than $1,000 in just a few months, qualifying her to become a One in a Million member.

Now, you might think it was a "no brainer" for Kim to put her money where her mouth is. After all, she is a green living consultant who has founded her own sustainable business and website. (Make sure you check out her work at GreenWell Consulting and GetGreenBeWell). But she still has to manage a budget, make choices when she shops, and evaluate trade-offs.

So I asked her, "What inspired you to make the shifts to greener products and services?" "I started living greener because of health problems that weren't being adressed by modern medicine - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia," she said. "After quickly realizing the positive health benefits of living green, I really became more in tune with how my decisions directly or indirectly affect the health of the planet as a whole. It's a "Do unto others...." mentality that I have now.  What do my excessive spending habits do to the livelihoods of individuals less fortunate than us around the world?"  
  
Then I wanted to know, "What was easy about the shifts? What was more challenging?"  "Buying organic and healthier foods was definitely easier. There's an instant benefit there.  And buying green cleaners is a no-brainer. Same cost, or less, for the same cleaning power. Paying much more for healthier personal care products can be challenging sometimes, since the cost is often SO much more than the cheap stuff, but these are products that are being absorbed by your skin, so the health benefits to me are more important. I just find ways to use less stuff, and the savings justify the costs!"
 
Being intentional about how she's spending her money has also inspired Kim to plan for the future. "I hope to invest in larger, more expensive items such as rain barrels, a composter, a drip irrigation system and even a hydroponic garden system," she vows. "I know these are so important, but the initial expense can be quite expensive, especially when it also involves some modifications to your home."

In the meantime, Kim will contine to make affordable shifts in her day-to-day purchases that benefit her as well as the environment.

Kim's Shifts in 2010

January	Recycled Envelopes	6.50
February	Biodynamic Lotion (Clearance)	5.00
February	Organic Tea House	4.00
February	Organic Groceries	125.00
February	Non-Profit Org. Donation	25.00
March	Organic personal care products	54.00
March	Organic groceries	130.00
March	Seeds	10.00
March	strawberry & blueberry plants	12.00
April	Organic meats & produce	130.00
March	Organic Restaurant	8.00
March	Non-Profit Org. Donation	15.00
April	Green Business Cards	11.00
April	Stainless Steel Lunch Container	18.00
April	Organic Tea House	10.00
April	Eco Tour	80.00
April	Organic Chocolates	6.00
April	Organic Restaurant	54.00
May	Eco Friendly Pest Controls	4.50
May	Recyclable Pots	60.00
May	Compost/ Worm Castings/ Mulch	40.00
May	Organic Groceries	150.00
May	Green Web Site Hosting	40.00
May	Native Plants	30.00
May	Organic Groceries	109.00
TOTAL		$ 1,137

Feeling inspired? You can join the One in a Million campaign yourself. Here's how.

And to read about more One in a Million members, click here.

 

Plastic Activist Shifts $1114 to Green Goods

Beth Terry is best known for taking a stand against plastic over at her inspired blog Fake Plastic Fish. But living plastic-free is not the only way this Bay Area accountant and activist makes a difference. She's shifted her spending to organic produce and natural products like toothpaste and laundry powder, too. She bought a bicycle instead of a car, and gives gifts like fair trade organic chocolate.

 

Beth took the One in a Million Challenge last year, as you can see from her balance sheet below. But the spending shifts she's made weren't temporary. They're a way of life that I hope will inspire you to do the same!

 

Total ................................................................. $1114.59 

   

    **NOTE:  "None of this includes cash spent at the Farmer’s Market or elsewhere. These are just credit card expenditures." Wondering how Beth made these shifts and avoided plastic? She bought laundry powder in a recyclable carboard box, rather than liquid laundry detergent in a plastic jug. She uses cotton mesh baggies to collect produce, rather than plastic bags. She also buys milk in a cardboard carton rather than a plastic bottle. (BTW, ACV stands for apple cider vinegar. TJ stands for Trader Joe's, though Beth has recently shifted to Tom's because the aluminum toothpaste tube is recyclable. In the last year, Beth also shifted from detergent powder to Laundry Tree soap nuts.)

 

 

Feeling inspired? Please join Beth and the almost 5,000 other consumers who have already taken the One in a Million Challenge! It's easy -- Fill out this balance sheet, keeping track of the shifts you make over time until you have shifted $1,000. Then send us your sheet, along with a picture so we can add your lovely face to our growing wall of One in a Million members. We'll feature you in Big Green Purse, so you can help inspire others - though we hope you'll urge your friends and family to take the challenge, too.

 

Stay-At-Home Mom Shifts $1,600 of Household Budget to Protect the Environment and Her Family

Erin Peters knows a thing or two about "green" shopping.

The stay-at-home mother of three young boys lives with her family in Raleigh, North Carolina. She writes The Conscious Shopper blog, where her motto is "Go Green. Live Better. Save Money." She's also the newest member of our One in a Million campaign, joining almost 5,000 other folks who have shifted at least $1,000 of their household budgets to the greenest products and services available.

One thousand dollars sounds like a lot of money. But since we're talking about shifting our spending, rather than adding to what we already spend, it's something most of us can afford. Plus, if a million people do it, we could send a message worth a billion dollars to manufacturers that we want them to make our health and the environment a priority.  Here's how Erin made the shift:

Every month I spend about $600 on local and/or organic groceries for my family of five. Over the past year, I've also spent:

$400 on a winter CSA membership
$60 on Charlie's Soap laundry detergent
$54 on Seventh Generation dishwasher detergent and dish soap
$16 on recycled paper towels
$10 on trash bags made with recycled content
$45 on recycled toilet paper
$72 on Tom's of Maine toothpaste
$30 on Preserve toothbrushes
$60 on organic make-up
$7 on Crystal deodorant
$173 on thrift store clothing and Simple Shoes
$27 to set up a worm bin
$52 on recycled printer paper

$1606 - Total

Erin's shifts did not happen overnight. 

"For a long time, I had a misconception that living green was expensive and therefore out of reach for my family," she said. "Then one day, I got frustrated with the feeling that I was buying inferior and unhealthy products and that I wasn't spending my money in accordance with my values. I decided just to go for it and see if I could buy organic, non-toxic, and fair trade products without blowing my family's budget.

"At that time, our budget was extremely tight, but I found that by living more frugally and doing the green things that save money, I was able to shift our savings to our food and clothing budget. Without affecting our overall budget at all, I was able to go green!"

 Erin said some shifts were pretty easy. "I love buying fresh foods from the farmer's market and through our CSA. I love that my family is eating healthier, but I also enjoy meeting the farmers and hearing their passion. Knowing where our food comes from is such a wonderful feeling," she says.

 But there are still some challenges - like clothing. "In my past life," Erin admits, "I was a Target-clothing addict. I've learned to enjoy thrift store shopping, but there are some items (like shoes) that I prefer to buy new and the price difference of eco-friendly clothing versus Target clothing is a hard one for me. Mostly, I get over that hurdle by not going to Target. Out of sight, out of mind."

Erin is taking what she's learned as a green budget shifter and launched a campaign to encourage others  to make small behavior changes, too. It's called The Conscious Shopper Challenge, and it provides weekly goals to help people go green in a year without spending a lot of money. "We start with "trimming your waste-line" (reducing your trash production), then we work on energy, water, transportation, shopping, food, and finally looking "beyond your front door," explains Erin.

"I think a lot of people have the same misconception that I used to have: that going green means big expensive changes like buying a new car or putting solar panels on the roof. But I've learned that there are so many small things each individual can do, and those small things add up to make a big difference.

"I hope The Conscious Shopper Challenge will show people how easy and affordable it can be to go green while providing a strong supportive community to go green with. But beyond that, I hope people will feel inspired to be conscious shoppers, aware of how their decisions in the marketplace affect other people and the planet."

Feeling inspired? Check out even more inspiring One in a Million stories here. Why don't you join us? It's easy. Start here.

She shifted $1,000 of her budget to eco-friendly goods...and chickens!

If you’re looking for ways to live a greener life, take some pointers from Fran Martin.

Fran is the newest member of the One in a Million campaign, a feat she achieved by switching more than $1,000 of her household budget to products and services that offer the greatest environmental benefit. The campaign doesn’t ask people to spend MORE money. Instead, it encourages consumers to throw their marketplace clout behind non-toxic, eco-friendly alternatives that often end up saving people more money in the long run.

Who is Fran?

Fran, who is married, 67, and the mother of grown children, has lived in Butler, PA for the past 43 years. Her husband trains and breeds Labrador retrievers; “We have two,” she says. Fran is retired, but works part-time conducting food demonstrations where “I really push the organic products whether it is my demo of the day or not.”

"At home I am an avid cook - everything from scratch,” says the One in a Million devotee.  “After the Women for a Healthy Environment conference last year, and after reading Omnivore's Dilemma, I extended my organic garden and got two hens so I could have organic eggs.  I erected a hoop house in October to have a winter garden which proved to be quite successful.  The only red meat we eat is venison, and I can and freeze everything possible.”

“I also made homemade mouthwash and fabric softner,” she said.

How did she shift $1,000?

Here are the actual eco budget shifts Fran made between October 2008 and December 2009:

Organic Grains, Beans - $40
Organic Coffee - $208
Organic Dairy - $155
Organic Nuts –  $52
Organic Pasta - $21
Household Products (like eco-safe laundry detergent, dish soap, and cleaning soap) - $115
Nontoxic Health/Beauty Products - $66
Organic Chicken Feed - $26
Beverages - $23
Soymilk (2 cases) - $25
Meats/Fish - $123
Snacks - $8
Veg/Fruit - $90
Organic garden fertilizer and soil amendments: $75
Stopped using clothes dryer almost completely: undetermined energy savings

Total: at least $1,025

Why?

When I asked Fran why she made the shifts, here's what she said:  
 
* What inspired you to join the One in a Million campaign? I attended the Women’s Health and the Environment Conference in Pittsburg and heard you describe the difference we can make based on how we spend our money. I thought, “I can do that.”
 
* What change was unexpectedly easy to make? Keeping track of my purchases!
 
* What proved to be most challenging? Finding the best prices (ed. Note: This is true for many people, but a little bargain shopping can make organic food and recycled products very affordable)’
 
* What's your next step? Continue to purchase present organic products and add new ones as I find them.

Great job, Fran! Thanks for sharing your success with us.

Join Us!

And for all of you who are inspired to make your own spending shifts, get started here.

Shift Your Spending to Protect the Environment

We launched the "One in a Million" challenge to encourage consumers to shift $1,000 of their usual household budget to products and services that offer the greatest environmental benefit. To date, almost 5,000 people have made the shift, resulting in a $5 million impact in the marketplace.

Here's the inspiring story of Cassandra, one of our most recent shifters. Thanks for becoming One in a Million!

Hi Diane!

I signed up for your "One in a Million" challenge last year at the beginning of May after I purchased your book. I am delighted to report I have achieved the goal of shifting $1000 towards organic products in one year. My total was $1153.06.

Just after I signed up for your challenge I moved from Syracuse, New York to Salt Lake City, Utah. This made my challenge both easier and harder. I didn't know where to shop for organic foods and I had to start from scratch with appliances and furniture.

I learned quickly and began shopping at Whole Foods as well as thrift stores for furniture for my new apartment, kitchen supplies, and clothes. I tried to share my excitement with my family and friends by buying them "green presents" - organic soaps, used books, organic chocolate, bamboo shirts, and organic cotton socks for their birthdays and Christmas. As a result my mother has begun to use her reusable grocery bags and buys organic fruits and vegetables. I'm working on convincing her to switch to organic laundry detergents.

I work as a project manager for a small firm based out of Arizona. Currently, I am helping my company manage the construction of a large wind farm in southern Utah called the Milford Wind Corridor. My company acts as the third party compliance monitor ensuring the biological and cultural resources are protected during construction. It has given me a new perspective on the process of shifting to alternative energy.

I enjoy being "green" at work and at home! Your book and blog has prompted me to be a better, more informed consumer.

Thanks so much for your inspiration!

Cassandra

How did Cassandra do it?

Opera Singer Shifts $1,000 to Save the Planet

Elizabeth de Shong makes her living as a professional opera singer. But she's made "green living" a priority for herself and her family. To show her commitment, she joined the One in a Million Campaign, and so far has shifted more than $1,000 of her household income to products and services that offer the greatest environmental benefit. Here's her story:

Did you do this for a household of people or just yourself?   My decision to join the Big Green Purse campaign helped solidify the commitment my husband and I made to making our home and lifestyle more "green".

What inspired you to make these changes?  I love life. I really don't know how else to put it. After educating myself on topics like the climate crisis, factory farming, chemical hazards in cosmetics and cleaning products, etc., I realized Gandhi stated it best when he said "Be the change that you want to see in the world."

It is easy to sit back and complain that the government isn't doing its job (although, I'm feeling more hopeful about this now), that the problems are too big, or that someone else is to blame. If you have the knowledge and truly care about change, it is your responsibility to take action. It was hypocritical of me to claim to care about these issues and not "be the change."  I had to take action and believe that my contribution would make a difference.

What surprised you - what was easy, what was hard?  In the beginning stages, there were the tedious tasks of reading labels, researching companies, trying to remember to grab my canvas shopping bags, and hours spent online trying to find the best prices on "green" products.

The surprising thing was that it became extremely fun! There are so many wonderful small businesses that (because they don't have multi-million dollar marketing budgets) you never know are there until you seek them out. It is a wonderful feeling to know that your hard earned dollars are making a real difference in not only your own life, but the world. Also, as someone whose job requires a lot of travel, I'm more at ease knowing that I've created a safe and low-impact home base for my husband and pets. Now that the foundation has been built, I'm committed to using my diet as a means of change. When I travel, I eat vegan unless I am positive the meat/dairy/eggs I consume are organic, grass-finished, and preferably local.

What do you think the long-term impact of making these shifts will be for you and your lifestyle?     Ultimately, my hope is that the principle of leading by example will encourage others to make positive changes in their own lives and together we will help make the world a cleaner, safer, healthier place for future generations.

Here's how  Elizabeth shifted her spending:

“One in a Million” Balance Sheet

     Date                   Item                                                    Money Spent

1/31/08                    safe cosmetics & paper products            $45

3/3/08                     safe cosmetics                                       $54
2/29/08                   organic cotton clothes                             $45

3/4/08                     everyday minerals make-up                      $65.74
3/15/08                   everyday minerals make-up                      $33.56
2/20/08                   Dr Bronner’s soaps                                  $17
2/28/08                  organic foods & cleaning items                  $70
3/28/08                  safe cosmetics & organic food items         $62.07
4/17/08                  green cleaning & cosmetics products        $52.12
5/27/08                  safe cleaners & health products                $45.36
5/27/08                  safe cosmetics from BWC,Burt’s Bees      $22.42
5/22/08                  everyday minerals make-up                       $42
7/27/08                  Green Forest paper products                     $15.73
11/30/08                everyday minerals makeup                        $60.14_
8/28/08                  Kindle paperless, wireless reading device  $359

1/21/09                 Klean Kanteen water bottle                       $16.80

1/22/09                organic "Frey" wine                                   $40

1/23/09               organic cotton "Oberlin" T-shirt                    $16

1/23/09               all natural cosmetics from vitacost               $50.06

1/24/09               organic groceries from Trader Joes'               $170

 1/26/09              natural floor wipes by Wipex                         $12.72
 
  Total …………………………………...................………….. $ 1,294.72

Great job, Elizabeth!

Feeling inspired? Please join the One in a Million Campaign today and help use your spending power to create a cleaner, greener world.