Fact Card is a series of posts summarising crowdsourcing and public decision making initiatives relevant to our project. Please post a comment or email us with any clarification.

What?
Instead of boycotts, Porkkanamafia (‘carrotmob’) offers to spend money in order to support the business if the business is willing to make a socially responsible change. The lonely consumer is powerless, but a big crowd can get their voice heard. Carrotmob consist of people who are willing to vote with their feet – and wallets.

How does it work?

• Porkkanamafia negotiates with local businesses (restaurants, coffee shops, grocery stores, etc.) and ask how much of the extra revenue coming from a carrotmob event they would be willing to invest in the improvement of their energy efficiency
• A shopping spree will be organised for the benefit of the business with the ‘highest bid’ (the largest sum going to energy efficiency)
• Afterwards, volunteering energy consultants evaluate what kind of actions the business could and should take and supervise their work
• The Finnish carrot mob has an open discussion board on their website where people can suggest and comment on new projects

Who’s involved?
Citizens, local businesses

Status:
Active. Groups and local associations around Finland

Website:
http://www.porkkanamafia.fi