Fivelimes: Green Shopping Community Goes Live
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 10.30.06
Based on the belief that "going green" isn't difficult if you have access to the right information, Fivelimes.com aims to be your central resource for all things eco-friendly and socially responsible. The web-based community, which had been in beta for several months (we mentioned them before), officially launched late last week and has the beginnings of what could be an impressive collection of green products and services. Sort of like Hugg, but with stuff instead of news, the site invites users to submit their favorite book (like The Big Green Apple) or coffee table (like Iannone Sanderson's kirei beauty, pictured above) or little gadget (like the Jimi iPod nano case, also pictured); other users can then add their own rating and review or follow the link to buy it. Participation is free; Fivelimes wants to leverage the power of the masses, so they want everyone to be involved. If you've seen some groovy green stuff and want others to know about it, click on over and share it with the world. ::Fivelimes via ::Hugg
So this seems cool but I am always worried about greenwashing. I have taken a look at some stuff on there that is simply not sustainable. Come on, raised dog dishes so your pet can dine in luxury? Better not to buy that stuff in the first place. It's doing society a disservice if people feel like they can buy whatever unnecessary stuff they want as long as it's made "sustainably."
**Author's comments**
Jensen,
Thanks for your comment. You're right -- everything that gets posted up there may not be sustainable, but the thing that we like about Fivelimes is that it's moderated by its users. If you see something that doesn't fit, you can do something about it. Eventually, the cream will rise to the top.