Save Green While You Shop Green

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

That’s right. It’s price.

According to a 2009 survey by market research firm Mintel, the top reason consumers don’t shop green continues to be cost. Fifty-four percent of survey respondents said they would buy more green products but the products are too expensive.

Hopefully, supply and demand will eventually bring down the price of eco-friendly goods. But in the meantime, where can a frugal shopper find a good green deal?

Here are a few thrifty tips that can help eco-conscious consumers stretch their dollars:

Online Coupons: Coupons for green groceries, like organic foods and eco-friendly cleaners, are not nearly as common as they are for conventional grocery items. Most green companies are small and can’t afford the costs associated with offering coupons. However, many of the larger organic companies, such as Horizon Dairy and Stonyfield Farms, do offer coupons you can print from their websites. Ecobunga! keeps a handy list of all the latest printable green grocery coupons.

Mobile Coupons: Mobile coupon applications are starting to offer green deals as well, like T-mobile’s Green Perks which delivers discounts on green products and services right to your phone. Just be cautious when using automated applications like these – sometimes products slip through that are a shade short of green.

Savings Books: If you’re lucky, there might just be a local coupon book with green deals in your metro area. Examples include Green Zebra a (San Francisco, Silicon Valley); EcoMetro (East Bay, Silicon Valley, Denver, Portland, Seattle, Twin Cities); Green Savings Indy (Indianapolis), and the Go Green Coupon Book (San Diego).

Bulk Discounts: Many organic food companies, like Eden Foods and Rocky Mountain Organic Meats offer bulk orders through their websites. If a large quantity order is too much for your household, find a "bulk buddy" and split the order.

Sales and Discounters: Online, you’ll find lots of e-tailers with green deals -- everyone from big names like green-living superstore Gaiam, which has a terrific Outlet section, to small mom-and-pop sites.

Other online retailers noted for deep discounts also sell eco-friendly products, like Overstock.com. Just remember, though, that sometimes the dirt in dirt-cheap isn’t always good for the earth. Just because a company sells eco-friendly products, doesn’t necessarily mean that they operate in an environmentally responsible manner.

Free Shipping: Free shipping deals from green e-tailers offer a great value for folks who don't live within easy driving distance to stores with eco-friendly products. Just be sure to read the fine print -- restrictions usually apply.

We hope these tips help you find some great green deals. After all, being eco-conscious doesn’t mean you can’t be cost-conscious, too!

Karen Schiff is the co-founder of Ecobunga!, an online guide to green giveaways & deals at http://www.ecobunga.com