One of the most important thing you can do to influence society is to make sure your shopping habits fit your personal philosophy. Some companies are particularly bad or particularly good in their environmental policies, labor policies, charitable giving, scandals, etc. The money you spend should, to the best of your ability, go to support your ideals and companies that aren't violating your ideals. This is not easy, unless you have a resource that can give you the information you need to make these decisions.

That resource can be found at Co-op America. It is called "Responsible Shopper." I have been using this resource for some 15 years, back when it was a little boolket called "Shopping for a Better World." From their site:

Co-op America's Responsible Shopper provides you with the real story about abuses by well-known companies, gives you actions to promote corporate responsibility, and helps you green your life and world.

Search hundreds of company profiles by name or by industry and quickly compare the corporate responsibility records of companies within industries.

Companies are rated on their environmental, human rights, labor, ethics, health and safety, and green-washing performances.

Some examples:

How about booksellers: Amazon.com is the worst (sadly...I used to love them and shopped with them almost from the beginning), Barnes and Noble and Borders are better.

Food: Danone, Cadbury Schweppes, General Mills, Campbell Soup, and Dean Foods (White Wave Foods) are the best companies. Pepsi and Nestle are the worst (note: Nestle has been among the worst for at least 20 years).

Gas Stations: Exxon/Mobil, Chevron and Shell are the worst (no surprise for those who have paid attention to these companies for the last 20 years). Sunoco is marginally the best. Citgo is not rated.

Internet: Google and AOL are better than Yahoo (the worst).

Supermarkets: my favorite, Trader Joe's, is BY FAR the best (one of the best companies they rate). Whole Foods (which I consider overpriced and overrated) is second. Albertson's/Acme, Kroger, Safeway and, of course, Wal-Mart/Sam's Club are all terrible companies.

The site has details if you click on the company you want to look into.

Take a look. Give it a try. And make an informed decision.