Green America Explained

Green America (known as Co-op America until January 1, 2009) is a nonprofit membership organization based in the United States that promotes environmentally aware, ethical consumerism. It was founded in 1982 by Paul Freundlich[1] [2] to help consumers find environmentally compliant companies[3] in the marketplace. Green America provides businesses with the Green America Seal of Approval, after completing Green America's screening process and have been approved to be listed in their National Green Pages[4] directory. The Green America Approved seal is given to applicant businesses that operate in ways that support workers, communities, and protect the environment.[5] [6]

History

Co-op America (now Green America) had its roots in the environmental and social justice movements of the '70s. Founder Paul Freundlich thought that there was a significant segment of Americans who had been changed by the culture of recent decades,[7] yet had not found a way to express that in their lives.[8] Some regional businesses had grown out of similar values, yet lacked access to a customer base sufficient for growth.[9] Co-op America began as a collaborative marketplace, speaking to the shared interests of consumers and business, by a staff and an elected governance structure. Co-op America published a quarterly journal, Building Economic Alternatives, and a catalog of goods and services.

Co-op America received support from Consumers United's President, James P. Gibbons. The Co-op Catalog was developed and supervised by Denise Hamler, who joined the staff in 1982, and has continued to manage major programs including National Green Pages and Green Festivals. In 2016, Denise Hamler retired from Green America after 34 years.[10]

Alisa Gravitz became a consultant in 1983 and in 1990 succeeded Paul Freundlich as executive director. Paul remained on the board of directors as founder and president emeritus.

Programs

Green America has programs to promote environmental preservation and improve human rights in food, finance, labor, social justice, and climate. In 2019, these were some of the programs were available:

Green America is part of Voice, a watchdog coalition for a reformed cocoa industry.[17] Godiva chocolates and child labor is one focus.[18] [19] Global Exchange and International Labor Rights Forum are also part of the program.[20]

Publications

Green America publishes the National Green Pages,[21] [22] a nationwide directory of screened, socially, and environmental responsible businesses in the United States.[23] It is intended to connect consumers with green products from green businesses.

Your Green Life is an annual publication that is a guide for consumers who wish to make responsible choices when purchasing goods or services.[24]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 20 Years of Green Living : Columbia River. www.greenlivingjournal.com. 2019-10-31.
  2. Book: The new village green : living light, living local, living large. 2007. New Society Publishers. Morris, Stephen, 1948-. 978-1550923445. Gabriola, B.C.. 567901307.
  3. Book: Sustainability in America's cities : creating the green metropolis. 2011. Island Press. Slavin, Matthew I.. 9781610910286. Washington. 755081438.
  4. Web site: National Green Pages. www.sustainable.org. 2019-11-02. 2021-04-24. https://web.archive.org/web/20210424011500/https://www.sustainable.org/living/responsible-buying-a-consumption/602-national-green-pages. dead.
  5. Ottman. Jacquelyn A.. 1992-04-01. Industry's Response to Green Consumerism. Journal of Business Strategy. 13. 4. 3–7. en. 10.1108/eb039498. 10120307. 0275-6668.
  6. Web site: Can Trustmarks Be Trusted? BBMG Report Finds That Very Few Green Certifications Having an Impact – Press Releases on CSRwire.com. www.csrwire.com. 2019-10-31.
  7. Mazar. Nina. Zhong. Chen-Bo. April 2010. Do Green Products Make Us Better People?. Psychological Science. en. 21. 4. 494–498. 10.1177/0956797610363538. 20424089. 5728562. 0956-7976. 10.1.1.333.6172.
  8. Book: Green culture : environmental rhetoric in contemporary America. 1996. University of Wisconsin Press. Herndl, Carl George., Brown, Stuart C. (Stuart Cameron), 1955-. 0299149900. Madison, Wis.. 33335361.
  9. Book: Boström, Magnus.. Eco-standards, product labelling and green consumerism. 2008. Palgrave Macmillan. Klintman, Mikael, 1968-. 9780230584006. Basingstoke [England]. 314769591.
  10. Web site: Green America. 2020-09-11. www.greenamerica.org. en.
  11. Web site: Inside the hellish workday of an Amazon warehouse employee. Spitznagel. Eric. 2019-07-13. New York Post. en. 2019-10-31.
  12. Web site: What's Prime Day Like for Amazon Warehouse Workers? We Asked One.. Glaser. April. 2019-07-16. Slate Magazine. en. 2019-10-31.
  13. Web site: 60 Amazon Workers Walked Out Over Warehouse Working Conditions. Gurley. Lauren Kaori. 2019-10-03. Vice. en. 2019-10-31.
  14. Web site: The Hands That Feed Us. Emerson Collective. en. 2019-10-31. 2021-05-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20210520140635/https://www.emersoncollective.com/articles/2018/03/the-hands-that-feed-us. dead.
  15. Web site: America cannot eat without immigrant food workers. These are their stories.. 2018-10-29. New Food Economy. en-CA. 2019-10-31.
  16. Book: Satre, Lowell J. (Lowell Joseph), 1942-. Chocolate on trial : slavery, politics, and the ethics of business. 2005. Ohio University Press. 0821416251. 1st. Athens, Ohio. 58478938.
  17. Web site: VOICE Network – A watchdog and catalyst for a reformed cocoa sector. en-US. 2019-10-31.
  18. News: Hershey, Nestle and Mars won't promise their chocolate is free of child labor. Washington Post. en. 2019-10-31.
  19. Web site: Child Labor and Slavery in the Chocolate Industry. Food Empowerment Project. en-US. 2019-10-31.
  20. Web site: Raise the Bar, Hershey! Campaign Welcomes Hershey's Announcement to Source 100% Certified Cocoa by 2020 International Labor Rights Forum. laborrights.org. 3 October 2012. 2019-11-02.
  21. Web site: New 2017 "National Green Pages" is Definitive Consumer Resource for Responsible Shopping for the Holidays and Every Day. DC. Green America, Washington. www.prnewswire.com. en. 2019-11-02.
  22. Web site: Know Thy Target Sustainability Marketing, The New Rules of Green Marketing Book J. Ottman Consulting. Ottman. Jacqueline. www.greenmarketing.com. en. 2019-11-02.
  23. Book: Scruton, Roger.. How to think seriously about the planet : the case for an environmental conservatism. Roger Scruton. 2012. Oxford University Press. Scruton, Roger.. 9780199895588. New York. 794003747.
  24. Book: Green America.. National green pages. [the directory of products and services for people and the planet]. 2012. Green America. 841811305.

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