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You’re the customer!

You are the customer, so ask for what you want. If you are looking for greener products, or want to know about how something was made and can’t find the information you need, ask the retailer or manufacturer - and keep asking if you have to.

If more people ask, companies are more likely to start stocking greener products and offering greener services – and providing the information you want to help you make a choice.

What do companies do to be ‘green’?

More and more companies are taking their environmental responsibilities seriously. This is often referred to as part of a company’s Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) policy. Many have developed schemes that consult their customers on the company’s policies - so you can get involved.

Larger companies’ websites will have information about their policy and commit to reporting to their customers (and people that invest in the company - such as stakeholders) the progress that they make.

For example, a company may give a percentage of a product sold, like an insurance policy, to an environmental or conservation project in another country.

Even though certain markets for green products are currently small, more and more providers are:

• offering products with a ‘green’ element to them – for example, donating money to a green initiative, like a carbon off-setting scheme, for every product that is sold – such as a mortgage
• letting customers know what other companies they work with (or invest in) – for example, a company that only sources raw materials from known, sustainable sources (those that can be renewed) and does not damage the environment

Examples of what companies are doing include:

• reducing packaging on products or using greener fuel in the vehicles that transport their goods to stores
• removing chemicals that may harm the environment from a product or a manufacturing process

How do you choose, for example, a ‘green’ financial provider?

If you have money set aside you can save and/or invest it. You can make a decision about what type of savings product to choose and which provider based on how ‘green’ they are.

An independent financial adviser is a good starting point. Not all advisers will have detailed knowledge of green or ethical companies and products so it’s a good idea to check this out when you first get in touch.

What about ethical companies?

Being an ‘ethical’ organisation can cover a wide area from animal welfare, workers’ rights - to only investing in companies and countries that support human rights.

People have different opinions on ethical issues - it’s your choice what research you do into a company or organisation before deciding what product or service to buy or use.

Useful links

• Greener shopping and products
• Sustainable development
• How to shop around for financial products (money, tax and benefits section)