The best green websites, voted by some of the web’s leading eco-bloggers and green social media junkies.

Hi, and welcome to the first annual Green Web Awards. I’m Nigel from Nigel’s Eco Store, an online shop for eco-friendly products. The web has become more and more important in spreading awareness and promoting action on environmental issues, and these awards aim to recognise the achievements of the websites leading this.

We asked some of the web’s leading environmental bloggers and social media users to name their favourite green sites in twelve categories. The winners and runners-up are listed below. I hope you enjoy the result!

Award Categories

1. Green Travel / Eco Tourism Sites Back to top
   

   We asked the judges for their favourite sites to do with environmentally friendly travel

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     Responsible Travel - Handpicked eco holidays run by passionate people who care about the environment and local people. Read user reviews, compare prices and make bookings.
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     Concerned about air travel's contribution to global warming? The Man in Seat 61 will tell you how to travel overland comfortably & affordably where you might think that flying was the only option.
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     Green Traveller is a guide for anyone looking to travel in a way that lessens their impact on the environment and provides genuine benefits for conservation and local people.

   Runner-up:    EcoEscape (http://www.ecoescape.org)

2. Green Site for Kids Back to top

   Which website is the best at getting children to learn and explore environmental issues?

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     RecycleZone - The site for schools, children and teachers that tells you about the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle...
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     Zero Footprint Kids is a carbon footprint calculator for children, measuring the direct impact of a child's lifestyle on the planet, using terms kids understand: carbon, land, water and trees.
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     Eco Friendly Kids is a site for parents and children with tips and advice to show how everyone can play a part in helping to protect the environment.

   Runner-up:    EcoKids (http://www.ecokids.ca)

3. Ethical Health & Beauty Sites Back to top

   The judges picks for websites that promote ethical health & beauty

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     Green People is an organic health and beauty brand providing chemical-free, 100% natural, vegan and not-tested-on-animals products for all the family.
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     The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics is a coalition working to protect your health by calling for the elimination of chemicals used in the cosmetics industry linked to cancer, birth defects and other health problems.
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     Eco Chick was set up because "women who cared about the planet needed a place of their own on the web". Amongst other things, it covers green health and beauty issues from a woman's perspective.

   Runner-up:    Neals Yard Remedies (http://www.nealsyardremedies.com)

4. Eco-Blogs & News Sites Back to top

   Which blogs or news sites are the best sources of information and discussion on Green issues?

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     It's no surprise that the judges voted Treehugger as No. 1 in this category - it has firmly established itself as the "Green CNN" online: a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information.
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     The Guardian's Environment website is filled with news, blogs and multimedia content on green issues.
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     HippyShopper is your guide to ethical consumerism, providing daily advice, product news and everything you need to make you go green.

   Runner-up:    EcoStreet (http://ecostreet.com)

5. Online Campaigns Back to top

   Which web-based campaign has done the best job in raising awareness and promoting action on Green issues?

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     Green Thing is a community that makes it easy and enjoyable to be a bit greener. Every month you'll get a different green thing to do. All you have to do is do it.
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     The Nag is a place for anyone who's always wanted to do something about climate change, or sweatshops, or eating better food, but never gets around to it. This site will 'nag' you once a month with a simple green action.
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     We Are What We Do is a movement to inspire people to use their everyday actions to change the world, based on the idea that "small actions x lots of people = big change".

   Runner-up:    Earth Day Network (http://www.earthday.net)

6. Green Living Advice Sites Back to top

   Our judges' favourite sources for tips and advice on eco-living.

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     Ideal Bite gives you a fun and easy bite-sized tip every day to help you live a greener, more sustainable lifestyle.
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     SmartPlanet offers green news, reviews of organic, ethical and energy-saving products, and advice on creating a greener and fairer planet.
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     Friends of the Earth Living - full of advice on things like composting, energy efficiency, recycling, FOE Living aims to help you reduce your environmental impact and make a real difference.

   Runner-up:    The Nag (http://www.thenag.net)

7. Online Communities Back to top

   Which is your favourite Green online community?

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     Freecycle was a clear winner in this category. A network of local groups around the world recycling and redistributing their stuff to keep it out of landfill sites and dumping grounds.
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     Edenbee is an online community working to tackle climate change by measuring your carbon footprint, suggesting ways to reduce it and showing you the difference you've made.
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     Greenopolis is a green social networking site that aims to bring together communities, companies and organisations, and to reward individuals for making positive environmental changes.

   Runner-up:    Playgreen Wiki (http://playgreen.org)

8. Green Energy Sites Back to top

   Which is the best site about sustainable and renewable energy?

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     Good Energy is an energy supplier providing 100% renewable electricity. They aim to help reduce CO2 emissions from traditional power plants.
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     Ecotricity is a green energy provider which also invests in the building of renewable energy sources such as wind turbines.
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     Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organisation providing advice to help you save money and reduce CO2 emissions from your home.

   Runner-up:    Centre for Alternative Technology (http://www.cat.org.uk)

9. Ethical Clothing & Fashion Back to top

   Which are the best brands & labels for eco-friendly clothing online?

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     PeopleTree is a fair trade, eco-friendly fashion pioneer. They're dedicated to improving the livelihood of their producer partners and use natural resources sustainably to protect the environment.
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     Howies are famed for their organic cotton T-shirts, environmentally conscious casual clothing and sportswear designed for bikers, skateboarders and snowboarders.
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     Enamore is a contemporary clothing label specialising in womenswear and the use of organic hemp based fabrics and recycled materials.

   Runner-up:    Ciel (http://www.ciel.ltd.uk)

10. Climate Change Websites Back to top

    Climate Change is such a big issue we thought we'd have a whole category dedicated to the best websites on the subject.

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      Act on CO2 helps you find out what your carbon footprint is and how you can make some simple changes to help tackle climate change.
    • 
      The BBC Climate Change site is a fantastic resource of news, opinion and explanation on climate change issues.
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      The Greenpeace Climate Change campaign is committed to exposing threats to the environment and finding creative, positive solutions.

    Runner-up:    DeSmogBlog (http://www.desmogblog.com)

11. Greenest Companies Back to top

    Which corporations or companies do you think have 'got it right' with environmentalism?

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      Method has somehow managed to get people excited about cleaning products, not least for their commitment to non-toxic, natural ingredients that aren't tested on animals.
    • 
      Ecover's range of ecological detergents and cleansing agents have become a household name for green folks, and their environmental policy has clearly impressed our judges.
    • 
      The smoothie people at Innocent have a five-fold ethical policy: natural ingredients, responsible farming, sustainable packaging, carbon neutral business and ethical profit sharing. That's earned them a Green Web Award!

    Runner-up:    Abel & Cole (http://www.abelandcole.co.uk)

12. Wooden Spoon Award for the Worst Greenwash Back to top

    Which company has been guilty of the most cynical PR 'Greenwash' to cover up crimes against the environment?

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      Barbie B-Cause (Eco Child's Play) - Mattel attempted to cash in on the Green bandwagon with a range of 'eco-friendly' Barbies. It backfired amongst the green blogging community - here's Eco Child's Play's take on the issue.
    • 
      Shell - Flowery Chimneys Ad (Friends of the Earth) - In May 2008 Shell launched an advert depicting an oil refinery emitting flowers rather than smoke and claimed that it uses its "waste CO2 to grow flowers and waste sulphur to make concrete". FOE were having none of it and managed to get the ad withdrawn in the UK and Holland.
    • 
      ExxonMobil Ad Campaign (DeSmogBlog) - The folks at DeSmogBlog point out the hypocrisy of ExxonMobil, who have been one of the top deniers of climate change, suddenly running a 'green' ad campaign...

    Runner-up:    Clean Coal (http://www.coal-is-dirty.com)

You’ve seen what our judges think are the Best Green Websites of 2008 – now it’s your turn. You can tell us what sites you think should have won, leave a comment or join the discussion over at Nigel’s Eco Blog