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Greener Choices Home > e-Newsletters
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Expert • Independent • Non-profit
Recommendations & Ratings on Greener Products & Services
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Get the latest Green Ratings and advice on choosing products for a better planet |
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Did you know? Your washer and dryer account for about 10 percent of your electric bill. For tips on getting the most out of your machines for less, click here. And if you're in the market for new ones, visit our frequently updated Washer & dryer page to find efficient models that meet your needs. |
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For more information and advice on all of the appliances we cover, click here.
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Want to save fuel and money this winter? With heating oil and natural gas prices rising sharply, there's all the more reason to try to conserve energy this winter. For tips that will get you on your way to saving money, and at the same time, help reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, the environmentally harmful greenhouse gas associated with climate change, click here. |
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Plastic water bottles piling up...
According to the Container Recycling Institute, an estimated 8 in 10, or 22 billion-single-serving plastic water bottles won't make it into the recycling bin this year, but instead will end up in a landfill. What's more, bottled water isn't necessarily safer than tap water. Click here to read Consumer Reports complete bottled water report. For more information on the state of plastics recycling, and how you can help, click here. |
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Eco-labels tip of the month: Coffee with a cause
If you're a coffee drinker looking for a little added "feel good" value in your cup, you shouldn't have to look too far. Today, companies large and small are selling coffee with various eco-labels claiming to address social and environmental challenges within the industry. By choosing coffees with the most credible eco-labels, you'll help to ensure your purchase will make a difference. |
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Here’s a list of the most meaningful eco-labels you can find on coffee:
Bird Friendly 
What it means:
•Coffee is grown under conditions that support healthy bird habitats.
•Coffee is grown under a tree canopy with a minimum of 40 percent shade.
•Coffee is grown under a tree canopy with a minimum of 40 percent shade.
For a list of Bird Friendly coffee companies, visit the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, a research and certification organization. To learn more about what the Bird Friendly label means, visit Eco-labels, our free labeling Web site.
Fair Trade Certified
What it means:
•Farmers and workers are guaranteed a minimum price of $1.26 per pound ($1.41 per pound if organic), which is higher than average market rates, for their product.*
•Trade is conducted directly between farmer-owned cooperatives and buyers.
•Crops are grown using soil and water conservation measures that restrict the use of agrochemicals.
For a list of companies that carry Fair Trade coffee, visit TransFair USA, the U.S. fair trade labeling organization. To learn more about what the Fair Trade label means, visit Eco-labels, our free labeling Web site.
Rainforest Alliance
What it means:
•Crops are grown using integrated pest management systems that limit the use of agrochemicals.
•Crops are grown using water-, soil-, and wildlife-habitat conservation measures.
•Farm laborers are paid salaries and benefits equal to or greater than the legal minimum wage of their countries.
To locate Rainforest Alliance certified coffee, visit the Rainforest Alliance, an environmental advocacy and certification organization. To learn more about what the Rainforest Alliance label means, visit Eco-labels, our free labeling Web site.
USDA Certified Organic
What it means:
•Farmers emphasize the use of renewable resources and the conservation of soil and water to enhance environmental quality.
•Crops are grown without using synthetic fertilizer or the most persistent pesticides.
•Crops are produced without genetic engineering or ionizing radiation.
•Crops are processed and handled separately from conventional coffee.
For a list of organic coffee companies, visit the Organic Consumers Association, an organic advocacy organization. Click on "organic food" and then "coffee." To learn more about what the organic label means, visit Eco-labels, our free labeling Web site.
For help interpreting 100+ other eco-labels for food, personal hygiene products, household cleaners, wood and paper, check our sister site, Eco-Labels.org
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Copyright © 2003-2007 Consumers Union of U.S., Inc., 101 Truman Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10703. No reproduction, in whole or part, without written permission.
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