Last Minute Stocking Stuffer - The Better World Shopping Guide

If you are a conscientious person who wants their shopping dollars to count, you might be confused by the many choices for products and companies that are available. It's hard to remember which companies are environmentally and socially responsible and which are not, and many companies are owned by bigger, more destructive companies, and you wouldn't even know it without doing some research.

This is where The Better World Shopping Guide - 2nd edition ($10) comes in. The Better World Shopping Guide is a pocket sized guide to help shoppers decide which brands and companies to spend their money on. You'd be amazed how much information is packed into this tiny book - with categories such as chocolate, computers, airlines, gas stations, pet care, toilet paper, meat alternatives, and much, much more, you're almost certain to find what you are looking for.

Here's how it works, or the way I find it easiest to search the book: Look through the glossary at the back of the book to find the product you are searching for, then go to that page. There will be a list ranging from A+ to F (sometimes the list doesn't start at A+, if no companies for that product scored an A+) listing companies that make or sell that product. The section will also explain why the best scoring company is so, and also why the worst scoring company did so poorly.

The companies are scored based on 5 key issues: the environment, human rights, animal protection, community involvement, and social justice. The scoring is described as follows:

The size of the book is perfect, since it's extremely easy to take with you everywhere you go. The one drawback is also due to the size - except for the short explanations for the best and worst companies in each category, no explanations are given for the others. Wondering why your favorite beer company scored a D? You'll have to do your own research! I'm not asking for the book to include explanations for all the companies, that would almost certainly make it no longer pocket sized! Maybe the website could include this information?

Since I know you're curious... I'm going to include the 10 best companies and the 10 worst, but to be honest, there's no real surprises there!

10 Best Companies

1. Seventh Generation
2. Working Assets
3. Eden foods
4. Organic Valley
5. Clif Bar
6. Honest Tea
7. Patagonia
8. Tom's of Maine
9. Ben & Jerry's
10. Aveda

10 Worst Companies

1. Exxon Mobil
2. Kraft
3. Wal-Mart
4. Chevron Texaco
5. Pfizer
6. Nestle
7. General Electric
8. Archer Daniels Midland
9. General Moters
10. Tyson Foods