Assessing the true cost of a product through its history

A while ago the GC posted a video on the site called The Story of Stuff which, in one segment, pointed out that the price one pays in a store in the US for a product probably doesn't reflect its actual cost in terms of labor, transport, resources, etc.  There is now at least one place on the net that allows you to look at the history of a product in order to better assess it's real price.  "Sourcemap is a tool for producers, business owners, and consumers that allows them to understand the impact of supply chains. Our site is a social network where anyone can contribute to a shared understanding ofthe 'story' that underlies a product."

Sourcemap

Along the same lines, Patagonia, a company that makes athletic gear and clothing, is providing the same kind of information for their products on their site: the Footprint Chronicles.