For the nearly 100 million mobile device users that rely on apps to guide their shopping experiences, it's hard to imagine making a purchase without them.
Already, we can compare prices, organize shopping lists, budget spending, check business reviews and download coupons on the go.
It was only a matter of time until we had an ethical shopping app, too. Open Label takes crowdsourced reviews to another level, letting consumers scan any barcode to generate user feedback on the manufacturer's environmental, political, safety, health or medical records, according to Springwise.
"Every single time we buy a product, we are funding the actions of the company that made it," said CEO Scott Kennedy. "We finally have the tool to provide real transparency here."
You can follow the brands you support and there's also a way to earn klout as a reviewer, much like Amazon or eBay, so you'll know which reviews to trust. The app is still in beta but you can sign up for a free demo here.
Who knows whether warnings about Apple's dodgy Chinese labor laws or McDonald's pink slime recipe would really steer customers away, but it's another way to encourage conscious spending.
See the demo below for a peek at how it works:
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