A new mobile phone application called Barcoo has recently been developed by Business Science Graduates in Germany that will allow shoppers to scan the bar codes on products to check a company’s social responsibility rating and environmental credentials.

Using the new app consumers will be able to point their phone at the bar code on products to find out how environmentally friendly the company is, what the carbon footprint of the item is and even how well the company treat their staff.

The developers of the new app said that it has been created to motivate the world to shop more ethically and to give consumers more knowledge about the product before buying it.

Barcoo also allows its users to compare prices on similar products with maps to show alternate locations, it also gives dietary and allergy advice.

At the moment, Barcoo is only available in Germany but its expected that something similar will be making its way to the UK in the near future.