I’m always looking to save money, and if I can help the environment in the process, that’s even better. I ran across a story on SmartMoney today highlighting how companies are willing to reward their customers for green behaviors. While most of these deals don’t offer significant savings, who can complain about saving a few bucks?
Bring a Bag
• CVS: Purchase a CVS 99-cent Green Bag Tag and swipe it each time you bring your own bag or decline a store bag at checkout. Four visits earn you a $1 store coupon, printed on your receipt.
• Giant: Save five cents per bag.
• Kroger: Save four cents per bag.
• Shop Rite: Save two cents per bag when you reuse one of the store’s paper or plastic bags, or five cents per bag when you use a non-disposable tote (does not have to be a store tote).
• Target: Save five cents per reusable bag.
• Whole Foods: Save five or 10 cents per bag, depending on the individual store’s policy.
Go Paperless
• Allstate: Customers who sign up for paperless billing (with automatic withdrawal from a bank account) receive a discount of up to 5% on an auto policy, depending on the state. The discount is not available in California, North Dakota and South Dakota.
• Progressive: Policy holders who sign up to get documents electronically save up to 5%, depending on the state and whether the customer buys directly or through an agent. The discount is available in 41 states.
• Sprint: The company gives a one-time $5 credit to customers who sign up for Sprint’s eBill service. (Consumers who get a discount on their plans through an employer are not eligible.)
• Time Warner Cable: Time Warner Cable customers in New York can get a $1 credit on their bill each month if they opt for paperless billing.
Recycle
• Apple: Bring in an old iPod for recycling to an Apple store and the company will provide a 10% discount on a new one. (Discount not eligible on iPod shuffle models.)
• MAC Cosmetics: Through the Back to MAC program, customers who return six containers from MAC products receive a free lipstick of their choice.
• RecycleBank.com: Consumers earn points in this free program for recycling old electronics and, depending on where they live, regular recyclables such as paper, glass and plastic. (Participating cities include Cherry Hill, N.J., and Mesa, Ariz.)
• Staples: Recycle ink and toner cartridges in store to receive $3 in Staples Rewards to use on future store purchases. (Limit 10 per month per customer.)
Buy Green Goods
• American Express: The Zync charge card with Eco Pack from American Express offers two reward points per dollar spent on purchases only at select eco-friendly merchants rated on Greenopia.com; it also gives a 25% discount when cashing in green rewards. The card carries an annual fee of $25 — the same as you’d pay for a standard Zync card (one point per dollar spent on all purchases) but $20 less than those with add-on reward packs offering two points per dollar spent on travel, entertainment or communications.
• Duane Reade: Consumers who join the drugstore chain’s free Eco Club rewards program earn double points on environmentally-friendly products from participating companies, including Physician’s Formula organic makeup and EcoSpiral light bulbs. (Under the main FlexRewards program, earn two points per dollar spent at the store, with a $5 reward for every 500 points.)
• UMB: With the UMB Eco Rewards Visa, customers earn two points per dollar spent on green purchases. (Enter environmentally friendly purchases in a separate rebate site to have rewards credited.) Earn one point per dollar spent on other purchases.
Reuse
• Einstein Bros. Bagels: Customers who bring in a refillable mug for coffee are charged $1, a discount of up to $1 off regular menu prices. Some locations also offer “Free Refill Fridays,” when consumers who use a refillable store mug get a free coffee refill before 2 p.m.
• Peet’s Coffe & Tea: Save 10 cents with a refillable mug. Save 25 cents when reusing a coffee bag for bean purchases.
• Starbucks: Save 10 cents with a refillable mug.
Let us know if your aware of any other things companies are doing to incentivize going green.
[SmartMoney]
