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Green Any Site

Originally published by "dbarker" on 2008-11-30 14:47:00Z

Green Any Site: Here’s a brilliant little idea from long-time Gadgetopia reader Tal Ater.

He’s created a series of affiliate accounts with various online merchants. He donates 100% of the proceeds paid to those affiliates to environmental causes.

So, how does he get people to buy under the affiliate accounts? This is from an email he sent me:

The “green this purchase” link is actually an affiliate link, created in real-time based on where you clicked the bookmarklet from, and leading right back to where you were shopping… So when you click the bookmarklet, you’re basically telling the site that GreenAnySite sent you, and they pay us a commission for referring you… We then donate 100% of the affiliate fees we get to environmental organizations (chosen and voted on by GAS users).

So, if this takes off, Tal has essentially forced retailers to give 10% (or whatever) of their proceeds to the environment, whether they like it or not.

The only danger I can see is that the retailers would figure it out, realize he wasn’t actually driving new traffic, and close his affiliate accounts. But, if enough word gets out about it, perhaps that would be detrimental from a PR perspective?

Regardless, great little idea.

Comment by "Tal Ater" on 2008-11-30 16:24:00Z
In its essence, GAS is a simple bookmarklet that you add to your bookmarks. Every time you are about to add something to your shopping cart, in any online store, you click it and finish your shopping as usual... GAS takes care of the rest. The magic that happens behind the scenes is just as Deane described it... and you know what... I hope it pisses retailers off, and makes them take real action and responsibility for their environmental impact... I would be proud and happy the day GAS becomes obsolete.
Comment by "Paul Martin" on 2008-12-02 09:12:00Z
What about those of us that rely on our Amazon affiliate accounts to help support our websites being online? If this takes off, it has the potential to rob the affiliate network of any real value, taking money away from sites that need it to run. Sure, it's for a good cause, but when it takes from a site that needs it, there's a problem.