Shopping Tips

In today's age of convenience driven consumption it is important to remember that with convenience often comes environmental degradation. We all live busy lives, between work, family and home it is often easy to choose products that save time and energy. Unfortunately an insurgence of these products and more so their packaging has caused a major increase in the amount of material flooding into our waste stream. In order to fight this insurgence of "convenience driven waste", you don't have to travel half way across town to the health food store, or spend hours a day cooking meals from scratch. Next time you visit your local grocery store, toy store, or super store, take the three R's with you. Before purchasing a product consider it's long term impact, ask yourself the following questions.

At Home
Fun Facts
Shopping Tips
Composting

 

  • Will this product last?
  • Can it be handed down?
  • Can it be returned?
  • Can it be purchased in bulk?
  • Is it made of recycled material?
  • Can it or it's packaging be recycled?
  • Is it made from harmful chemical products?
  • Are the long term wastes created by this product and it's packaging worth the convenience?

Green Gift Giving

  • Purchase gifts that aren't over packaged with layer upon layer of plastic and cardboard. Remember it's not the box that the child will play with, it's what is inside.
  • Purchase gifts that will last, preferably with long term warranties.
  • Give gifts that promote healthy environmental ethics such as a can crusher, home compost kit, window ledge herb garden, bird feeder, or even a gift basket filled with eco-friendly cleaning supplies.
  • Include rechargeable batteries with electronic gifts.
  • Give the gift of time, such as free babysitting, house cleaning or cooking to busy couple.
  • Give a gift of experience, such as playhouse tickets, science center passes, movie tickets, rock hall tickets, ski passes, concert tickets, a zoo membership or museum tickets.
  • Give a gift that promotes saving instead of consumption, such as a savings account, bond, piggy bank or environmental fund contribution.
  • Lastly, consider the long term impact of your gift. Will it last? Can it be handed down? Can it be returned? Is it made of recycled material? Can it be recycled? Is it made from harmful chemical products?