Do You Pay More For Environmentally Friendly Products?

Are You Willing to Pay More If It's Earth-Friendly?

April 22, 2008

Unfortunately, some items are more expensive in their environmentally-friendly versions than their less earthy counterparts. In our daily lives there are tons of products out there boasting their green-ability, and I'm wondering what are your spending instincts when you see two similar items side by side — one eco-loving and the other not so much. Do you typically zoom in on the price or do you reach for the more earth-friendly product?

32 Comments

tdamji 5 years 3 weeks

i buy eco-friendly products almost all the time. the cost seems like a small consideration for me when one thinks about the impact of excess consumerism etc. and all those chemicals, plus big-business. all kinds of things i can avoid if i go with smaller company-made eco-friendly products! i am a full time student, too, but since i'm vegan i don't waste a lot of money on meat and don't spend a lot on entertainment and other things, so i think my "green" lifestyle is a lot cheaper than most - mostly, it makes me happy. :)

tdamji 5 years 3 weeks

sldc 5 years 4 weeks

I have bought as many "green" products as possible, since oh... the late 1990's? I will agree that some things are sorta gimmicky and some are poor quality, so you have to be an informed consumer. When I cannot find (or justify the cost of) a certain type of product, I will opt for the best value, which includes price, quality, and [insert a less douchebag term than "eco" or "green"]. I read so many labels that a trip to the grocery can be a little intense. That being said, I love red meat, occasional bad stuff (fast food, tobacco, scotch) and I hate tiny cars and "green" propaganda that expects people to sacrifice TOO much for the greater(read:socialistic) good. I am also more apt to believe Richard A. Muller, the physicist, than Al Gore regarding Global Warming.

sldc 5 years 4 weeks

I have bought as many "green" products as possible, since oh... the late 1990's? I will agree that some things are sorta gimmicky and some are poor quality, so you have to be an informed consumer. When I cannot find (or justify the cost of) a certain type of product, I will opt for the best value, which includes price, quality, and [insert a less douchebag term than "eco" or "green"]. I read so many labels that a trip to the grocery can be a little intense.That being said, I love red meat, occasional bad stuff (fast food, tobacco, scotch) and I hate tiny cars and "green" propaganda that expects people to sacrifice TOO much for the greater(read:socialistic) good. I am also more apt to believe Richard A. Muller, the physicist, than Al Gore regarding Global Warming.

javsmav 5 years 4 weeks

Absolutely.

javsmav 5 years 4 weeks

Absolutely.

ALSW 5 years 4 weeks

It really depends on the product and the price.

MandyJoBo 5 years 4 weeks

Quality is really the most important to me when it comes to products. I don't like many of Seventh Generation's paper products. For baby wipes I prefer Pamper's Sensitive, for TP I prefer Charmin, and for paper towels I prefer Bounty. I've used SG's paper towels for cleaning before, though. In any situation quality didn't matter, I'd definitely use the most eco-friendly.

pharm_chick 5 years 4 weeks

i would like to, but its totally super pricey compared to non green stuff... but i recycle so it kind of counts

aimeeb 5 years 4 weeks

It depends on the actual product. If only I could go all green I would but it's far too pricey for me.

Berlin 5 years 4 weeks

I bought super cheap recycled TP at walmart (usually I opt for the Angel Soft) and OMG, not only is it cheaper, but it's eco-friendly and the stuff rocks! Now it's no 'double charmin' but I was never one to splurge on something that gets flushed anyways just for a bit of extra padding. Now method cleaning products, some are more expensive, some are just as comparable, but really I don't care about the price of them b/c they are again, eco-friendly and the design of the products rock. PLUS their new eucalyptus-mint bathroom line just smells incredible!So I don't think you need to go more expensive just to go green...if it is for that much more $$ and it has no design behind it, then that's just a waste to me! But if it is eco-happy and looks bad*ss, then I'll splurge just a bit:)

Berlin 5 years 4 weeks

I bought super cheap recycled TP at walmart (usually I opt for the Angel Soft) and OMG, not only is it cheaper, but it's eco-friendly and the stuff rocks! Now it's no 'double charmin' but I was never one to splurge on something that gets flushed anyways just for a bit of extra padding. Now method cleaning products, some are more expensive, some are just as comparable, but really I don't care about the price of them b/c they are again, eco-friendly and the design of the products rock. PLUS their new eucalyptus-mint bathroom line just smells incredible! So I don't think you need to go more expensive just to go green...if it is for that much more $$ and it has no design behind it, then that's just a waste to me! But if it is eco-happy and looks bad*ss, then I'll splurge just a bit:)

Txredd 5 years 4 weeks

Yes, but I do compare shop for the Eco products. Anything that is Earth friendly and safer to use is great to me. I don't like using products with chemicals in them. I've recently started using the new 'Green Works' Natural products from Clorox. I absolutely LOVE them! They're natural, and I think they work as well, if not better than other products I've used. The All-Purpose cleaner and the Dilutable cleaner are great. I swear by them.

bellaressa 5 years 4 weeks

It depends, if I can get the thing at a neighborhood store which likely is no. I usually have to travel to buy things and then I usually buy in bulk. Some months, if I need something and can't get to the store I pick up what I can at the local store. The new light bulbs are great but not all of them fit in some fixtures.

JaimeLeah526 5 years 4 weeks

Sometimes if the prices are pretty equal I will. I can't afford to spend double or anything like that but I'll overlook a dollar or so.

ffemt1201 5 years 4 weeks

i'm a FT student and work FT on an ambulance (which doesn't pay enough!) with tuition, rent, car, groceries bills...cost is, selfishly, my biggest concern

brookrene 5 years 4 weeks

I agree with RosaDilia.

brookrene 5 years 4 weeks

I agree with RosaDilia.

j2e1n9 5 years 4 weeks

Hell yes! I'm sick of buying things that are allegedly giving me cancer (i.e plastic, things that are "bleached") I dont care if it costs more.

cubadog 5 years 4 weeks

I buy green when I can but ingredients is another biggie to look at as mentioned above. I would also throw in not buying cosmetics with Palm Oil.

lawchick 5 years 4 weeks

I do it selectively because of the cost. There are certain things I care about more than others -- like not having petroleum-based laundry detergent, and buying toiletries that weren't tested on animals.I haven't made the switch to recycled TP, though.

lawchick 5 years 4 weeks

verily 5 years 4 weeks

Oh, and I always buy the "green" light bulbs unless I have no other choice (they don't fit in my fan's light fixture :(). My father jumped onto that bandwagon when they first started coming out with those; they've gotten a lot better over the years.

verily 5 years 4 weeks

I buy green when it isn't cost prohibitive. My grocery store prints out a lot of Seventh Generation checkout coupons so I use those often to buy laundry detergent and soaps. I haven't made the jump over to toilet paper, but buying greener toilet paper isn't a bad idea. I'd like to reduce the number of paper towels I use too.

verily 5 years 4 weeks

I buy green when it isn't cost prohibitive. My grocery store prints out a lot of Seventh Generation checkout coupons so I use those often to buy laundry detergent and soaps.I haven't made the jump over to toilet paper, but buying greener toilet paper isn't a bad idea. I'd like to reduce the number of paper towels I use too.

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32 Comments

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