Mission: We work for a world where all people have enough, where all communities are healthy and safe, and where the bounty of the Earth is preserved for all the generations to come. We work on issues of social justice and environmental responsibility. We see these issues as completely linked in the quest for a sustainable world - it’s what we mean when we say “green.” We focus on economic strategies - economic action to solve social and environmental problems. We mobilize people in their economic roles - as consumers, investors, workers, and business leaders. We empower people to take personal and collective action. We work to stop abusive practices and to create healthy, just and sustainable practices.
Programs: Co-op America's programs educate people about how to use their spending and investing power to bring the values of social justice and environmental sustainability into the economy, help socially and environmentally responsible businesses emerge and thrive, and pressure irresponsible companies to adopt socially and environmentally responsible practices. Our major operating programs include Green Business, Corporate Social Responsibility, Socially Responsible Investing, Fair Trade, and Renewable Energy.
Green Business - This program includes the Co-op America Business Network (CABN), the Green Pages, and Green Festivals. CABN is the oldest, largest, and most diverse network of socially and environmentally responsible businesses in the US and currently has over 2,000 members in over 150 product and service categories. The Green Pages is a print and online directory of CABN members that links consumers to these socially and environmentally responsible businesses. The Green Festival, a joint project of Co-op America and Global Exchange, unites green enterprises, social and environmental groups, visionary thinkers, and thousands of community members in a lively exchange of ideas, commerce, and movement-building.
Corporate Social Responsibility - This program includes Responsible Shopper, Shareholder Action, and Printing Alternatives Promoting Environmental Responsibility (PAPER) campaigns. The Responsible Shopper resource is an online portal for consumers that reports on the social and environmental performance of some of the largest consumer product companies in the market today. Our Shareholder Action work helps individuals use their shareholder clout to demand more socially and environmentally responsible practices and policies from publicly traded corporations by educating individual investors about the shareholder process and how they can vote their proxies in favor of social and environmental resolutions. Our PAPER campaign protects forests and the environment by educating individuals and magazine publishers about the environmental impacts of wood and paper production and the steps that each can take towards a sustainable and profitable solution.
Socially Responsible Investing - This program includes our Social Investing and Community Investing campaigns. Our Social Investing campaign provides resources to individual and institutional investors looking to put their saving and investing dollars to work for a more just and environmentally sustainable economy. Our Community Investing campaign provides educational resources for individuals and community groups looking to put their savings and investment dollars to work to help build sustainable communities and also works with institutional investors to steer at least 1% of their assets under management into community investing vehicles.
Fair Trade - This program includes our Fair Trade Alliance and Sweatshops project. Our Fair Trade Alliance is a national network of workplaces, schools, faith congregations, and community groups of all sizes and shapes that have committed to promoting fair trade, sharing ideas with others, and growing a global economy based on justice and sustainability. Our Sweatshops campaign educates consumers about how their purchases can help create an economy where child labor and sweatshops cease to exist.
Renewable Energy - Co-op America's Green Energy Program provides individuals and businesses with the information and resources they need to reduce their dependence on fossil fuel energy sources and choose clean, green, renewable energy options.
I am a proud Green America Business Member. It feels wonderful to know there is an organization supporting sustainable business and nurturing so many new businesses. Thanks for the work, research, reports and support you offer Green America members and others new to this way of living.
Joshua Laytart
Professional with expertise in this field
08/20/2013
Rating: 5
08/20/2013
Working in the natural products industry for the last 15 years, I can truly say that Green America is a must have resource. I have the 2013 catalog sitting next to my desk and constantly use it to find companies for not only work, but personal use. Thanks Green America. Keep up the fantastic work.
Great group that has fostered the green economy! I love the national green pages that connect me with businesses around the country trying to sell truly green goods. I know when a company is listed in the National Green Pages that Green America has checked them out and they are the real deal. I can now easily find truly environmentally-friendly and socially-just clothes, foods and household items I need. I live in a small town and it is not easy to find these things locally. I also like it when they point out large national businesses that are trying to jump on the fair trade or the environmentally-friendly band wagon without actually changing their practices. Something Green America refers to as "green-washing." I love chocolate and eat lots of it. I now make sure I buy organic, fair trade chocolate because of Green America. I feel they are looking out for my health as well as the health of the planet and the well-being of the poor in developing countries.
