The GoodGuide App

Unless you've just come out of a thaw, it's very likely you've heard about something called an "app." Were it not for the communications program I'm enrolled in, I likely wouldn't be too aware myself. To be quite honest, it wasn't too long ago when I thought the word app was just a truncated way of talking about the Apple Store. :/

It would be my loss if this was the case.

The word "app" is actually an abbreviation of the word "application" and it's the little square link you would see on the face of a smartphone. Typical apps are links to YouTube, Facebook, Google Maps, local weather, internet browser, and so on; basically helpful little buttons that take you to a website or service. One app I've discovered is called GoodGuide. (logo pictured above)

GoodGuide helps consumers find healthy, green, and socially responsible products for their home. While out shopping, a consumer can scan the bar code of any product and see how the product rates; for better, or for worse. It has over 65,000 items listed in its database and is adding more all of the time. From toys, household cleaners, food, and deodorants, GoodGuide wants users to know the data it has developed is a great resource for consumers to make healthier and more responsible purchases.

So how do they gain this trust?

GoodGuide prides itself on the ratings system it has created and the scientific study that has gone into the assessment of each product. GoodGuide's founder, Dara O'Rourke, is one of the leading experts on global supply chains and tracking product life-cycles from cradle to grave. GoodGuide's Chief Scientist, Bill Please, is an expert in chemical risk assessment, environmental engineering, chemistry, nutrition, and sociology. GoodGuide considers itself a "for benefit" organization.

Why might a consumer use GoodGuide?

There are a lot of companies claiming their products are "green." Why should they be believed? If you're a consumer who is "green-minded" or "green-curious," GoodGuide is an easy place to start. The people who already consider themselves "green" can keep up to date with the latest on the GoodGuide blog and those new to the lifestyle can begin with an assessment of their current products to see where they might make change. The only thing you need to start is a few of your current products to see how each measures up, and to consider what GoodGuide recommends based on the results.

Would a consumer change their habits based on GoodGuide?

Consumers want to make the right choices when it comes to the products they buy. There is a place in the app to enter your current product to see how it rates. As product ratings are based on health, environment, and corporate resonsibility, these are factors everyone can relate to and feel good about making positive change. The "green" movement is not meant to be seen as an individual action, but millions of individual actions in combination to make a difference.

Will people understand what GoodGuide is all about?

GoodGuide sees itself as an agent of change. Its message is clear. There are three dominant factors that rate products: safety, health, and corporate responsibility. Most users of GoodGuide will know what these things represent. The information a user receives is instant and prices for products are given (whenever possible) if you're researching products from home.

The app phenomena will continue to grow as long as our devices, and we ourselves, stay portable. It's definitely the next big thing in web navigation as it drives people directly to a website. In combination with social media and word of mouth, apps will continue to dominate the face of the smartphone and beyond.