We all know about the Yellow Pages, but the recently published Green Pages of Costa Rica now gives environmentally aware consumers the edge when searching for products and services that are ecofriendly and sustainable.
Available online at www.paginasverdescr.com, Green Pages is the brainchild of the Asociación Gaiana Tierra Viva (Living Earth Gaia Association) and is sponsored by the Tropical Scientific Center (TSC), the Costa Rican Electricity Institute (ICE) and HSBC bank.
The site provides a comprehensive directory of eco-friendly suppliers and service providers in Costa Rica. Each entry gives a brief description of the product or service offered, contact details, person in charge, Web site and location.
Divided into 18 categories, the directory covers sections such as agriculture, construction, food, alternative energy, professional services and tourism, and includes a fairly complete listing of conservation and green activist organizations, government institutions and certification agencies.
“The main aim of the directory is to encourage responsible consumer habits in the country by promoting companies that support sustainable development and giving customers the information they need about what’s available and where to find it,” project coordinator Diana Vega said in a statement.
To entice suppliers and service providers to advertise in the Green Pages, registration and inclusion in the directory are free, though paid publicity is possible to boost visibility. Advertisers are vetted to make sure they meet certain criteria of ecologically friendly practices, but Green Pages emphasizes that it is not a certification entity.
Besides the directory, Green Pages hopes to act as a platform for Earth-friendly education, posting articles and information on environmental issues.
For now, Green Pages is available only in Spanish, but Vega hopes an English version will be ready by 2010, when online and print versions are slated to be published.
–Vicky Longland
