The Red, White, and Green

It was in the aisles of my local CVS Pharmacy, not too long ago, that I realized that green had finally hit the mainstream. There, in the candy aisle, was a box of Russell Stover assorted organic chocolates. On the back of the box was a blurb about sustainable crop management practices and dairy cows receiving access to fresh air.

It seems that everyone these days is jumping on the eco bandwagon (and I certainly don’t mean to diminish Russell Stover’s efforts), but does slapping an “organic” sticker on a product mean it’s that much better for you, or the environment? After all, organic corn syrup is still corn syrup. I could foresee a future not unlike the fat-free craze of the ’90s: People gobbling up organic HoHos and chugging organic sodas, wondering why they still feel like garbage. But it says it’s organic…

Luckily, there’s an amazing resource for the environmentally, socially, and health-conscious consumer (which, ideally, should be all of us): San Francisco-based startup GoodGuide. Much like Environmental Working Group’s Cosmetic Safety Database, which provides a search engine that allows you to research the toxicity of personal care products, GoodGuide takes it one step further, and provides top-notch data about the health, environmental, and social impact of the products in your home, including food, beauty products, household cleaners, and toys.

Want to make sure a toy doesn’t contain lead or arsenic before you buy it for your 5-year-old nephew? Devoted to your organic cereal but curious about the company’s overall commitment to reducing emissions? Some of the answers you find on the GoodGuide website might surprise you. Kashi, for instance, that seeming beacon of whole-grain health, receives a “Terrible” rating (.4/10) for its energy management practices, while Cinnamon Toast Crunch receives an “Excellent” rating (10/10).

And for the ultimate shopping partner, GoodGuide mobile — with information and ratings on over 70,000 products — is available as a free iPhone app or text messaging application for your cell phone. Tip: Use in moderation. While it’s an incredibly helpful tool, it’s easy to get obsessed over finding an organic, low-sugar cereal that provides top benefits to all of its employees, donates most of its profits to charity, and operates a carbon-neutral plant. I have yet to find a perfect product. But GoodGuide is certainly helping to make us more aware of the ones that are close.

–Jennifer Grayson

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