GoodGuide – A Simple Step Toward a Sustainable Life

So you’re walking through the grocery store, looking to buy some organic macaroni and cheese, but there are so many options these days, which one to buy? What companies treat their workers fairly, what is their carbon footprint, how does the product weigh on your health? In today’s modern society, there are so many questions and concerns surrounding a simple purchase. That is why Dara O’Rourke, a professor at the University of California-Berkeley, started the GoodGuide, a website that helps consumers make appropriate and informed decisions on a vast range of products.

Mr. O’Rourke started the site several summers ago after putting suntan lotion on his young daughter and suddenly wondering, what is actually in this stuff? Just the other day, I myself was using some makeup and had the same sudden thought: What are these chemicals on the label that I cannot pronounce? I looked the brand up on the GoodGuide and, to my dismay, the rating wasn’t the best. I have since switched.

GoodGuide has an extensive list of criteria, over 600 points that help guide its ratings system. Health performance is measured by both the effects of a product on its employees and community, as well as personal health hazards to the consumer such as cancer risks, respiratory hazards, skin and eye irritation and mutagenicity, among others. GoodGuide judges environmental performance by assessing the lifecycle of an item from cradle to grave, including emissions produced and natural impact. Lastly, social issues such as employees’ working conditions, compensation and benefits are taken into consideration.

GoodGuide uses scientific judgment to assess products, and consults with professors, value advisors, research groups and environmental groups. In the future they will flag items that raise moral or ethical issues that may be judged differently from one person to another so that site users can add their own ratings. Products are rated from 0 to 10, with 0 being the worst and 10 being the best.

The list of products that GoodGuide rates pretty much covers the gambit. Their food section is extensive, and if you can’t make it to the farmers market or don’t have one near you, it’s a great way to find the most sustainable meats, vegetables, snacks, etc. For example, Organic Valley milk came up at the top with a rating of 7.9 while Horizon got a 4.1; not all organic is created equal. When I searched for pasta, I got back 38 pages of results – almost any product you see in your grocery store is rated.

As mentioned above, GoodGuide covers more than food. They have tons of listings on makeup, sunscreens, medicine cabinet items, household cleaners and more. They also have a devoted kids section which covers dress-up clothes, games, arts and crafts, dolls and action figures.

So next time you’re stressed about making the right choice, or simply feel like learning more about items you use everyday, take a look at the GoodGuide. It’s a great way to start greening your home and your life, and an excellent way to be sure that you and your family use the safest, healthiest, items that are also the best for the planet and made by people who enjoy fair working conditions.

Visit the site at www.goodguide.com.