When you’re searching online for a good green deal, where do you go first?
The two behemoths of the online classifieds world are Craigslist and eBay. Their continent-cracking size isn’t always a good thing – sifting out the eco-friendly from the not-so-much can turn into one of the labors of Hercules. Luckily these sites have corners that are greening up nicely, such as eBay’s World of Good – but in the main, you’re on your own.
Alternatives? Here are a couple we’ve spotted.
EcoFlip. Founded by Forrest Kolb and Joseph Paone, it’s a "classifieds community for eco-friendly people". It’s free to post, available in 42 countries, and in addition to adverts for sustainable services and products, there’s a section called "Reuse and Recycle" which presumably works the same way as the fabulous Freecycle. I’m particularly impressed with how you navigate around: first up, you choose your state, then your nearest city, and only then can you access all the listings. Start locally and work outwards – the way it should be.
Planet Thrive‘s focus is wellness, and the Ask the Expert and Wellness tabs on the front page lead to an impressive range of personal healthcare resources. The site is the work of writer, photographer and holistic health counselor Julie Genser, and she’s aimed for a very personal community feel right down to shared photo albums. You’ll also find environmentally-focused classifieds galore – from eco-friendly housing to green employment opportunities.
Give them a try, and drop us a comment to tell us what you think!
Image: Darwin Bell