New Greener Offers website lets you offset while you shop

July 4, 2007; 03:41 AM

Today sees the launch of Greener Offers, www.greeneroffers.com the website that lets you cut CO2 while you shop online.  For every purchase made, Greener Offers earns a commission, half of which goes straight to Climate Care to spend on CO2 reduction programmes that make a real difference to the planet.  On average, for every £75 spent, Greener Offers will offset one tonne of CO2 on your behalf.  There are currently over 60 well-known retailers, manufacturers and service providers on the site, offering a wide range of products including fashion, entertainment, books, DIY, financial services, energy, food & drink, home & garden, pet care, toys, as well as green and ethical products themselves.

Current offers include:

-          British Gas Homecare
-          10% off Crocus.co.uk, the gardening website
-          Discounts off energy from NPower
-          Vouchers for Persil and Comfort Concentrate
-          Toyota Prius for £255 per month
-          Ethical clothing from Seasalt
-          Sweaty Betty workout wear
-          Money for your old mobile phone from Envirofone
-          £50 driving credit for Zipcar, the urban car-sharing network
-          Great deals on car insurance from Budget Insurance

All of the products and services offered on the site must meet clear criteria.  They must either be green products at a special price, or regular products being sold with a greener component such as carbon offsetting.  All visitors will be able to view every part of the site but they will need to register if they want to respond to an offer.

Simon Ward, managing director of Greener Offers, comments:  “Greener Offers was born with a mission to make the greener option more accessible to everyone in their everyday lives.  It’s a website for consumers who want to “do their bit”, by buying environmentally-friendly products, or by buying from companies who will offset carbon as a result.  We’re not pretending this is the whole answer, but if you are going to buy something anyway, you might as well buy it through Greener Offers so that related emissions are offset as a result.  ”

The carbon offset product offered by most of the vendors is being provided by Climate Care, one of Europe’s largest carbon offsetting organisations. David Wellington from Climate Care says: “Greener Offers is a great example of an organisation that is doing its bit to support the public’s raised consciousness of green issues and offering a real-time solution to its customers in the form of carbon offsetting.”

The launch is being supported by the Energy Saving Trust, the non-profit organisation which aims to cut emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) by promoting the sustainable and efficient use of energy.

The site also currently features the following sections designed to promote awareness and education of what’s greener:

-         Carbon Calculator – provided by Climate Care
-         Greener News – info, stories, snippets, collated and edited by ourselves in the interests of our site visitors
-         Tips – useful ‘top 10’ lists to help people make more small changes to their everyday life to help
-         Greener links – to further useful relevant sites and resources

A forum and consumer panel are planned for later in 2007.