MamAnomolie

All of our purchases have impacts on people, communities and the environment, but these impacts are usually far-removed from us and they can be difficult to trace. There are, however, some great resources that can help you figure out which companies have values that match best with your own.

A GREAT and easy-to-use resource is the Better World Shopping Guide. There are so many reasons that I absolutely love this guide. First, it's so easy to look up what you are interested in. It is divided by product type. It covers airlines to wines and everything in between. Buying chocolate? Flip to the chocolate page and you will see just loads of brands listed, each given a grade anywhere from A through F. How easy is that?

What else do I love about this guide? It does a great job of including LOADS of brands. Not everyone can or wants to shop at specialty stores, but most people could choose between Crest or Colgate wherever they shop, and now you can see which brand ranks higher.

What are all of these brands graded on? That's another aspect about the Better World Shopping Guide that I like. So many times when looking for information on products, resources focus on only one aspect of the product, like environmental imapct. Not this guide! Each company is ranked on their track records in the areas of human rights, the environment, animal protection, community involvement and social justice.

Finally, the Better World Shopping Guide is pocket-sized. It's easy to whip out of your purse when you're at the grocery store. It costs only $10, too. What a great stocking stuffer!