Feb 05, 2012


Shopping Green

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money and the environmentAs a consumer, you generally need to go to the mall or to the nearest supermarket to buy your food and other household essentials. A myriad of choices usually confront you at the supermarket and it becomes difficult to make the right decision as to which product to purchase. The present environmental condition would tell you to ask yourself one thing whenever you plan to buy – are you engaging in green shopping?

 

Defining Green Shopping


The process of selecting products considered environmentally friendly is green shopping. Not only does it involve buying the right green materials from the store or getting the right kind of organic foods, but it also involves looking at the processes that manufacturers used in the creation of said goods.

 

Fewer trips to the Store


It is a well-known fact that every time you switch on the engine of your car, greenhouse gases are emitted into the air. Going green suggests you opt for driving your car as infrequently as possible. You can buy green products online, and many times, you’ll find more choices online compared to those offered at the mall. If your preference is shopping in person or if you’ll already be out of the house, try to group as many errands together as possible. Make a list of what you need then map out the most efficient route to save on time and gas.

 

Patronize Green Stores


Ethical shopping means supporting green products and the green stores that promote them. Choosing eco friendly products that were manufactured by environmentally friendly companies is not only a green choice for your family but also an incentive for manufacturers to offer more green options. The methods used by these companies in the manufacturing of their products are highly regulated, ensuring that they took proper measures for the safety of the environment.

 

These days you can find everything from eco friendly clothing to reclaimed, recycled and repurposed wood furniture. In terms of choosing the right products, stick with highly durable ones that can last for a long time. This will limit the frequency of buying the same product several times over, which would only add to the waste which will likely end up in a landfill.

 

Organic Fair Trade


Today, due to the growing environmental consciousness of individuals, more people are turning to organic products. And with global awareness increasing, more and more organic fair trade products are emerging. Coffee, chocolate, and clothing options are now available to protect the environment and worker rights as well.

 

Indeed, eco shopping is one way that you can help to sustain the environment. You would be surprised that it is a fun and very rewarding experience. Isn’t it great to bring home biodegradable products instead of those that cause undue damage to the environment?

 

 

(2010) Let's Go Green Shopping. Retrieved August 3, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/osw/education/pubs/shopping.htm

(2010) Eco-Guide. Retrieved August 3, 2010, from http://www.the-green-apple.co.uk/eco-guide/

(2006) Ten Ways to Green Your Holidays. Retrieved August 3, 2010, from http://www.greenamericatoday.org/programs/shopunshop/buyinggreen/HolidayTips.cfm

(2010) Sew Green. Retrieved August 3, 2010, from http://www.sew-green.org/sew_shopping.html

 

1 Comment

  • Comment Link Jo Renolds Thursday, 24 February 2011 09:32 posted by Jo Renolds

    Let's face it - we're gonna buy things no matter what. We're consumers after all. But, why not use our mighty dollar to support businesses & products that are healthy - for us and the environment. We consumers have a lot of purchasing power that we can wield with our pocketbooks. We can influence what products become popular and hence, what products manufacturers produce. If it's a little more expensive today, the more we buy green products, the more we increase demand for them. In our competitive market, that will drive prices down. We just need to take the initiative and make it happen.

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