Can we compile list of progressive companies?

[OneGrassRoot]

Few are going to be pure. Some may be solid environmentally-conscious yet not great as far as community relations; some may be great as far as contributing to the community yet not as green as they could be, and so on.

CREDO Mobile is, to me, an example of a progressive company. I'd really appreciate help in compiling a list of companies others believe fall more under the "progressive" umbrella than not; not perfect, but at least moving in the right direction.

There used to be websites devoted to this, but many have fallen by the wayside. If you know of sites still listing these companies, please share.

I'm interested in both national and global companies, but am primarily interested in corporations that have a compassionate aspect; they truly help others in some consistent way, not just for a short-term, cause-related marketing ploy. The smaller the corporation, the more likely this is to be the case, I realize. I doubt there are Fortune 500 companies which fall under a Compassionate Corporation category; but perhaps there are?

Maybe there are Fortune 500-type companies who you've noticed seem to be trending in the right direction and making an effort? Could you please list those if you've noticed this?

Here is a good post from last February listing a few companies and discussing the matter. One thing I noticed, however, is that Burts Bees is often listed; they were purchased by Clorox. Now, perhaps Burts Bees can move Clorox in the right direction; or do we assume Clorox moves Burts Bees in the wrong direction?

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/2/17/81112/2071/620/698077


Thanks! :hi:

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Costco?

I've never been in one, but I seem to recall that they have good labor/union policies.

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Wow, a friend just emailed, telling me I should read up on them...

that they do have good policies. I never would have imagined; then again, I've never been to a Costco.

I'll research them now. Thanks!

:hi:

[StarfarerBill]

2. Here's a yellow-pages-type site for progressive/environmental companies.

http://www.greenlisted.org/directory.aspx

Hope it helps. :)

[OneGrassRoot]

4. Awesome...

thank you!

:hi:

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. K&R for the link

and for the question that started it.

[onehandle]

6. Greenpeace Ranks Apple Highest Among Tech Companies

Given their long and storied feud, you would think Captain Ahab would have a better chance than Apple of being accepted by Greenpeace. Believe it or not, the impossible has actually happened.

Indeed, Greenpeace has ranked Apple highest on the list of eco-conscious tech companies. In fact, they got a perfect score thanks to their commitment to eliminate all toxic PVC and BFRs from their product line. Has Apple finally got the Greenpeace endangered species-protected monkey off its back?



http://gizmodo.com/5442960/greenpeace-ranks-apple-highest-among-tech-companies-whaaaaa

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/campaigns/toxics/electronics/how-the-companies-line-up/which-companies-really-sell-gr

[OneGrassRoot]

7. I hope some of you will permit me a rather disjointed ramble....

I'd love some feedback about this whole subject. I know we talk about corporatism a lot in this country, and many have very distinct opinions as to how we should move forward as a populace, but I have a hard time seeing things clearly.

Okay, so it's a given that, IN GENERAL, large multinational corporations are at the heart of many of our problems. They control Congress, they control resources, they control so much.

They will fight to maintain control, tooth and nail, as evidenced by the lobbying industry.

Boycotts and such can be effective, but companies like Walmart have such a stranglehold on things. Let's assume they do some good -- they DO provide jobs to Americans -- yet I fully recognize they suck in many, many ways.

It's the stranglehold aspect that is at the core of the problem. There are many people who simply have no choice but to shop at Walmart. No choice at all due to extreme financial limitations and/or geographic/travel limitations.

With that in mind, how can we start to transfer some of the wealth these corporations control and disperse amongst the citizenry more?

I can't get Robin Hood out of my mind...lol.

But, seriously...while it's wonderful and certainly wise to support up-and-coming businesses which ARE walking a path of integrity, so many times it is a huge struggle for them to stay in business -- because of the aforementioned stranglehold (not just by Walmart but other huge corporations).

Is it wise to pressure and perhaps offer ways for the traditional corporations to walk a path of integrity (granted, I doubt they will take it, but still...it may be worth a try), OR when possible do our level best to ignore them and focus fully on new progressive companies and put all of our energy there?

Our energy feels so limited with the way things are set up in this country, with capitalism run amok. So many are in survival mode...

The Burt's Bees example (being purchased by Clorox)is perfect. Assuming Burts Bees is/was progressive, can they influence Clorox, or is it vice versa? And how can WE work to influence that dynamic?

Thoughts?

[marmar]

8. Progressive corporation is largely a chimera......

..... they put on a facade, but in the end their chief responsibility is to stockholders, not the earth, the public good or workers.

[OneGrassRoot]

9. I agree.....

yet there must be incremental changes we can work toward, to shift this...beyond the political avenues of trying to limit or reverse the many decisions which have gotten us here. Some way to work toward evening out the extreme imbalance of wealth and resources.

Maybe there isn't a way. I don't know...I'm just wondering.

:)

[OneGrassRoot]

10. kick n/t

[applegrove]

11. Didn't there used to be a site called buyblue?

[onestepforward]

14. Yes. It was shut down in 2007.

Buyblue.org might be coming back? On the website, it says "The site you are visiting is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance."

It was a cool website and I used it frequently when it was running.

[jules1962]

15. sure was

went away a few years ago. It had great lists of companies along with ratings. It listed both "red" and "blue" companies. I remember Barnes & Noble,Costco,Progressive,and several others being rated highly liberal companies. To bad it went away. It was great to look at and be able to make informed choices.

[Odin2005]

12. A progressive corporation is an oxymoron.

[1]

13. no such thing exists. sure, some contribute more $$$ to pols, but a corporation is a corporation...

don't kid yourself...