Ecobunga! is a comprehensive directory of giveaways and deals on green products and services, including sweepstakes, contests, coupons, rebates, sales, free shipping, and bulk discounts. We link shoppers to great bargains and prizes while helping companies get the word out about their eco-friendly products and services. For more info, check out the FAQ.

What’s the top reason shoppers don’t buy green?  (Hint:  It ain’t cheap.)

 

That’s right.  Price.

 

According to a 2007 GfK Roper Green Gauge^® Study, about 40% of Americans said they’d pay for a product that is perceived as being better for the environment. But at the same time, 74% of those surveyed say green products are too expensive.  A survey by market research firm Mintel released in early 2009 confirms the continuing cost impediment to going green: 54% of respondents said they would buy more green products but the products are too expensive.

Increased demand and supply of green products should help bring prices down over time (at least, that’s what they promised us in Econ 101).  In the meantime, Ecobunga! wants to help chip away at the cost of going green by providing shoppers with valuable information on giveaways and deals, large and small.

One rainy day, former TechTV co-workers Jennifer and Karen, finding themselves betwixt and between, sat down for a cup of tea.  Both expressed an interest in starting a business; both wanted to try to live more sustainable lifestyles; both wanted to find a way to support others who wished to do so, too.

The rain stopped.  The clouds parted.  The teapot emptied.  And lo.  Ecobunga! was born.

Now we can’t claim to be eco-purists. We subscribe to the philosophy of "Be conscious; do your best; but don’t beat yourself up." Karen tries to always use her fabulous ultra-compact recyclable tote, but sometimes she forgets to bring it along.  Jennifer committed to cloth diapers for her son's first year—and line-dried them to make up for the million extra wash cycles.

But we’re working on living more eco-consciously.  And our sincerest hope is that Ecobunga! makes it just a little bit easier and a little more affordable for you to live green, too.

Jennifer Hastings
Jennifer has always thrived on saving a buck. She chalks her thriftiness up to her New England heritage. Coincidentally, she has also found that saving money often goes hand-in-hand with saving the environment. Why hop in the car when you can walk, bike or take public transit?  Why not reuse gift bags, including colorful tissue and ribbons, for holidays and birthdays? After the birth of her son, her commitment to going green—and saving money—just keeps growing. 

Professionally, Jennifer has spent over 12 years as a leader in web development, specializing in user experience research, user interface and content management system development. After eight years at ZDNet and TechTV (formerly ZDTV),  Jennifer branched out independently, managing user interface and content management-related projects for organizations such as Pacific Film Archive, UC Berkeley, BabyCenter, Wells Fargo, and, her new baby, Ecobunga! She holds a Masters of Information Management and Systems from UC Berkeley.

 

After developing ecobunga.com and nursing it through its early years,  Jennifer is now focusing on her other baby, Pipperoos.  She continues to serve as a technical adviser to Ecobunga!

Karen Schiff