The mobile version of Ethiq, which launched in May. The platform lets users vote with their wallet.It just became a lot easier to “vote with your wallet” after the recent launch of Ethiq, a nationwide platform that tells consumers what companies support their own beliefs and values.
The platform, which launched in May, was created by Darren Bates, a former public school teacher in Los Angeles, who said it’s about time consumers know where their money is going. Users create an account and respond to several statements on a scale ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly oppose” and responses provide them with companies that are either supportive or not supportive of that position based on the company’s campaign contributions.
The desktop version of Ethiq has garnered roughly 1,500 users across all 50 states. Statements cover current events in domestic and international politics, bills and ballot measures, corporate altruism and more.
“Intuitively, I think most of us realize that our purchasing decisions have profound consequences downstream,” Bates says. “The goal is to empower citizens to make informed consumer purchasing and voting decisions with unbiased, personalized and actionable information.”
Users are matched with about 60 major companies nationwide in four distinct categories: gas stations, grocery stores, department stores and fast food.