How to Find Green Businesses

Learn about recycling and learn about environmentally-friendly behaviors from green businesses. Green businesses adopt practices to limit their negative impact on society and the environment. Become an educated consumer and find green businesses quickly and easily with a few simple actions.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Join an online network. Go online and subscribe to a web community for "green" entrepreneurs or consumers. Chatting online with others is a great way to quickly learn about environmentally-conscious companies in the community and country.

2. Research companies you frequent. Learn more about the business practices of the stores you tend to shop at most. Find out if they recycle, especially those plastic shopping bags, and their take on "going green."

3. Go to a conference. Conferences, like Co-op America's Green Business Conference, gather all the green businesses together. It can be a great opportunity to ask questions and try to bring green businesses to your community.

4. Talk to business owners. Find a green business and chat with its owner to discover more businesses in the area.

5. Check labels. Read the label on every product you purchase. They generally share environmental information such as recycled materials or "cruelty-free" manufacturing processes.

6. Look for the recycle symbol on products and at stores. Many stores have recycling programs and advertise them with the recycling symbol, three arrows curved in the shape of a triangle.

7. Read the news. New and established businesses are going green everyday. Check news sources for updates on companies' environmental accomplishments.

Tips & Warnings

• Watch out for labels that only give half the story. Companies that only have the words "finished product" in their environmental successes, generally don't have environmentally sustaining practices for the entire manufacturing process.

Resources

• Sign up for a green business conference here.