Green Website Gives Ethical Businesses a Voice, Consumers a Choice

Holyoke, MA, February 01, 2011 --(PR.com)-- A new website based in Western Massachusetts is encouraging consumers to evaluate the ethical profiles of local businesses. LocalGreenie.org has unveiled separate sites for the Pioneer Valley (MA), Hudson Valley (NY) and, most recently, New York City.

Cody Torn, who serves as Managing Director, describes the site as "a locally-based portal for ethical and green business practices, news and jobs." The website features listings of area businesses that describe in depth their ethical contributions in four categories: Environment, Animals/Wildlife, People and Community. "It's really an ethical profile, a way for a business to connect with their customers and say what they do when it comes to green or socially responsible practices," says Torn. Rather than assign a star rating or certification, the site makes the contribution information available to all users for free. According to Torn, this allows readers to evaluate consumer choices based on their own values. "It puts the decision in their hands."

Torn is optimistic about the site's potential but is content to provide what he says is a useful service. "I'm most proud of the site's informative nature," he says. "It makes it easy to compare organizations and make the best decision as a consumer."

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Local Greenie is a website featuring green and ethical business profiles, news, events, and jobs. It was founded in 2008 by Cody Torn and Jessica Appleby, both graduates of UMass Amherst. http://localgreenie.org.