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How We Shop: Becoming a Green Consumer Some of the biggest problems facing our planet begin with consumer choices. The electricity we buy, the car we drive, and the foods we eat are choices we make each day that significantly impact the environment and our air quality.
Get Smart, Buy Green | Rethink Your Routine | Learn More Bulk up – Buying in bulk doesn’t mean purchasing large cases of individually wrapped goods or buying things you don’t really need because you couldn’t resist the bargain. Rather, it means purchasing the largest size of a product you were going to purchase anyway. Non-perishable items or household supplies like toilet paper and cleaning detergent should always be purchased in bulk.
Design & Function –It is always important to buy items with minimal or no packaging or contained in recycled-content packaging. More and more companies are stepping up—utilizing recovered materials to minimize solid and waterborne wastes. Consumers are now more aware, more so than ever, that buying quality items with good design means they are made to last longer which in turn conserves not just cash but our environment. Whenever possible, think about purchasing products that are adaptable with an extended life to meet changing needs. For instance, opt to be less disposable and buy rechargeable batteries, cloth diapers, and real plates and silverware for parties. At the end of its life, find out if the product can be recycled, refurbished or reused. There is always a second use for most things we buy, like converting empty marinara sauce bottles into storage containers (for hardware, nails, sewing supplies et al.) Many electronic companies also take older model products back in exchange for a newer model at a discounted price. Reduce Food Miles, Buy Local – It seems absurd to think that the food on your dinner plate has more frequent-traveler miles than you, but this is mostly truth rather than fodder. A typical meal travels roughly about an average of 1,500 to 2,500 miles to reach us. Every ingredient—meat, vegetables, fish, spices, milk, grains—is trucked or flown from where it’s grown to where it’s packaged to where it’s sold. That’s plenty of gas and fumes, not to mention fossil fuel for pesticides, all harmful to our air. Buying local will not only reduce carbon emissions, it also gives local farmers and rural economies a fighting chance. When local businesses do well, the community thrives, and having traveled less, the food on your plate will certainly taste a lot fresher! Find a farmer’s market near you or locate other locally grown sources of food or better yet, get started on your own vegetable garden (see Grow It.) Shop Online – Besides the evident time savings and convenience, shopping on the World Wide Web has significant environmental benefits too. The transportation energy used to ship items from warehouse to homes is less than the combined energy used to ship to retailers and then finally to us.
Even though online shopping is eco-friendly, there are tips to be even more energy- and resource-conscious:
Read the Label –If you want to be a responsible green consumer, you first have to know what you’re buying. That means reading your labels. Sometimes, some labels may not be as reliable, but it may be all you have at the point of purchase. Here are some of the major players that really change the game: ENERGY STAR®- When shopping for appliances, make sure you are ENERGY STAR® smart. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy created ENERGY STAR® that teaches us about energy efficient products and practices, helping us save money and protect the environment. When purchasing new appliances look for those that have the ENERGY STAR® label. These products meet strict energy efficiency guidelines. Learn more about ENERGY STAR® products and start saving. Fair Trade™ Certified – More than a source for economic justice, for the developing world’s small farmers, Fair Trade™ standards, handed down from an umbrella organization in Bonn, Germany, encourage eco-friendly farming methods and helps empower farmers and farm workers to lift themselves out of poverty.
FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) Certified – Trusted by environmentalists, the standards behind the FSC® label provides a credible link between responsible production and consumption of forest products, enabling consumers and businesses to make purchasing decisions that promote responsible forestry management. Paper products are rated based on recycled content and whether they are chlorine-free, among other stringent standards. Chlorine releases toxins into our air and water when combined with other chemicals. Learn more about paper and how to be conscious of its use. Green Seal™ – Founded in 1989, Green Seal™ represents the standard for environmental responsibility through scientific rigor and public transparency to build an educated and competitive marketplace. Products stamped with Green Seal™ are attached with industry knowledge and standards that help manufacturers, purchasers, and end users alike make responsible choices that positively impact business behavior and improve the quality of life for all. Learn more about available Green Seal™ certified products and services in your area. LEED® (Leadership in Environmental Energy and Design) – A building graced with the LEED® Green Building Rating System label conforms to standards reliably applied by the U.S. Green Building Council. The LEED® labeling formula was designed using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to impacts. LEED® certified homes typically have lower energy bills, resulting in massive annual cost-savings. However, because upfront construction costs of LEED® structures are typically higher, those extra expenses may be passed on to the buyer in the purchase price. Learn more about LEED® certification for your home. Low Emissions Vehicle (LEV) – Shopping for a vehicle is a big deal and can be tedious. As a green-minded car buyer, know that you have options. Under the California Emissions Standards, vehicles that meet strict emissions levels for non-methane organic gases (NMOG), oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide (CO) may qualify for one of five low-emissions categories: 1) transitional low-emissions vehicle (TLEV), 2) low-emissions vehicle, 3)ultra low-emissions vehicle (ULEV), 4) super ultra-low emissions vehicle (SULEV) and 5) zero-emissions vehicle (ZLEV). In addition, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the Green Vehicle Guide as a way to illustrate where vehicles fit on the eco-friendly scale. If a car meets certain guidelines it receives the SmartWay label. The greenest of the green are dubbed SmartWay Elite vehicles. When you purchase a vehicle that fall under any one of those categories, you can drive with your head held high knowing you are on your way to reducing your carbon footprint.
The National Organic Program and the Organic Foods Production Act are intended to assure consumers that the organic foods they purchase are produced, processed, and certified to be consistent with national organic standards. Learn more about the benefits of organic agriculture, food and products. More Eco Labels and what they represent
In fact, one paper bag takes more energy to make and creates more waste than two plastic bags. So what would you choose at the checkout counter—paper or plastic? How about skipping the in-store moral dilemma altogether and B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Bag). Whether you prefer hemp, organic canvas or cotton, or nylon, when you B.Y.O.B. you are doing the right thing, so carry on! Learn more about the plastic bag ban movement around the world and about plastic recycling codes. Rethinking includes examining where, how, and in what condition something is produced, including packaging, transportation, and design, all of which carry short and long-term consequences (see Design & Function). Rethink means renting or borrowing something you won’t use very often, or shared ownership of these things. Rethink is about being inventive and creative with all resources—it is the way of the future. Maintain It – Just like our bodies, when we care for and maintain our appliances, computers, tools, and vehicles, they tend to enjoy a longer life span. Of course things do eventually degenerate, but we can significantly slow down the wear and tear process with proper use and frequent care. Maintaining your vehicle is especially beneficial and regular service and inspections can keep your ride rolling past the extended warranty expiration date while improving the air we breathe at the same time. Share It – Why not consider sharing equipment with neighbors and family that are rarely used such as hedge clippers, pruners, or chain saws.
Map It - Plan out your shopping trip ahead of time. Head out during off-peak commuter traffic times of the day to decrease fuel consumption and lower your vehicles emissions. Also, make sure to combine errands in a single trip. Carpooling with neighbors, friends, and family to the store is not just more fun, it also drastically cuts down on roadway congestion and vehicle emissions. If you just need a few items at the store around the corner, get on that bike, break a sweat and you’ll be off and back in no time. If you’re in a transit-convenient neighborhood, running errands can be a breeze. Check your local area route listings: DART | The T | DCTA | TRE
Also, you’ll know exactly how your food was grown and what went into it. Homegrown produce are mostly free from pesticides, which means a healthier you. Lastly but certainly not the least, gardening connects you to nature and will inevitably create an environmental-consciousness. Learn everything you need to know about planting your own vegetable garden. There are also options for apartment dwellers with plants that thrive in pots. Just do one green thing today—it will lead to many more.
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