Filling up the `Big Green Purse'

A new campaign, the Big Green Purse, aims to influence the spending habits of women. With women spending 80 cents of every retail dollar, an Earth-friendly ethic could pay big dividends. BigGreenPurse.com urges women to spend $1,000 every year - less than 6 percent of the average American's expenditures - on green products. Organic and local foods, energy efficient appliances, nontoxic cleaners, shade-grown coffee and toxin-free cosmetics are some of the big areas where consumer muscle can shape not only individual purchases, but manufacturers' decisions. One important tip: beware of deceptive labels, which can erroneously advertise a product's green credentials.