ECO-SHOPPING:
USE YOUR CONSUMER VOTE
Every day, U.S. citizens make a host of purchasing
decisions. What we buy - and do not buy - can have far reaching environmental
consequences. Ecoshopping is a way of choosing products that emphasize
reducing waste and pollution.
Average Americans throw their weight out in packaging
every thirty to forty days, and one out of every ten dollars spent at the
market pays for packaging. The waste created when we discard the unused
portion of products or their packaging is one thing to consider. Also important,
however, are the raw materials, toxic pollution, and waste involved in
making and advertising products, as well as the fossil feuls used to ship
them to market.
Casting your consumer vote through ecoshopping
can make a real difference in achieving a "greener" marketplace.
This is enhanced by phoning or writing to store managers and manufacturers
to let them know what you buy- and don't buy- because of environmental
concerns.
Reduction:
Green consumers use less
The less you buy, the less trash and pollution
you create, and the fewer resources you destroy. Carefully considering
what you need - and do not need - is a great way to help the environment
and save money.
There are many ways to avoid over-consuming:
- Make a list when you go to the store to prevent
impulse purchases.
- Borrow books and magazines from the library.
Toys are also available at some libraries.
- Share infrequently used items, such as carpet
cleaners, camping equipment and certain tools.
- Repair broken items instead of replacing them
with new items.
- Purchase high-quality, durable products instead
of throw-away items.
- Look for reduced packaging on the things you
buy, and encourage retailers to stock products that are not heavily packaged.
- Use solar powered calculators, radios, watches
and other items to avoid having to buy batteries.
Re-use:
It's not waste until it's wasted
Single-use, throw-away items are promoted as being
"quick and convenient," but the waste and pollution they create
have long-term negative environmental consequences.
Think carefully about the products you use, buy
and discard and consider the following tips:
- Buy beverages (milk, pop,beer) in refillable
containers.
- Use (and re-use) cloth napkins, rags, handkerchiefs,
diapers,and tablecloths instead of disposable paper or plastics.
- Keep ceramic mugs and silverware on hand to use
at work, in "take-out" restaurants and on picnics.
- Shop at vintage clothing stores and estate and
garage sales to buy used clothing, toys, housewares and appliances.
- Re-sell or donate items you no longer need.
- Take old magazines or books to be read at your
local laundromat, health club or doctors office.
- Buy in bulk, and re-use your containers. Natural
food stores and an increasing number of grocery stores now offer many foods
in bulk, as well as laundry and dish soap, coffee, and pet food. Also look
for shampoo, conditioner and other personal care items in bulk.
- Compost yard waste and organic kitchen waste
(if your city allows it) and turn trash into valuable fertilizer. For more
composting information contact your local CBE office.
Recycling:
Closing the loop is key
Recycling means taking a product and re-manufacturing
it into something that can be use again. Recycling not only reduces garbage,
it saves on raw materials and energy in manufacturing. While there is some
pollution in the recycling process, it is not as extensive as the pollution
and waste that come from creating a new product from virgin materials.
Many people in the U.S. have latched onto recycling
as a "cure all" for our environmental woes. Recycling and buying
recycled products make good environmental sense, but it is important to
consider the following:
- A product is only recyclable if it is recyclable
in your area. Obtain a list from your local recycling service or city hall
to keep track of your options.
- Consider whether there is an end market for the
recycled material. Most plastics, for example, are difficult to recycle
and do not have fully developed markets. Because they are also made out
of petroleum, a non-renewable resource, plastics are best avoided.
- Evaluate your options. Because something is recyclable,
it is not necessarily the most environmentally friendly thing to buy. Drink
boxes, for example, have only one layer out of three that can be recycled.
It is preferable, therefore, to bring a thermos with juice made from concentrate
to school or work because there is much less packaging involved overall
- and it's cheaper.
- Look closely at labels for items made from recycled
materials. Look for 100% recycled material with a high percentage of post-consumer
waste.
Warning:
Products can be hazardous to your health
Hazardous consumer goods pose threats to human
and environmental health when they are manufactured, used and discarded.
Oven and drain cleaners, for example, contain caustic chemicals that can
cause serious burns. Polishes, paints and thinners contain solvents whose
vapors can cause liver, kidney and nerve damage, birth defects and cancer.
Insect and pest sprays are all poisonous. When these products are landfilled
or incinerated, they contaminate our water and air.
To make sure you are not polluting the environment
or endangering your family's health with household products:
- Avoid products with a skull and crossbones symbol,
or the words "danger," "harmful," "caution"
or "poison."
- Locate and use hazardous waste collection centers
for items such as unused paint, waste oil and other chemicals. If there
is no permanent collection site in your community, find out if there is
a collection day for hazardous waste.
- Stores that sell automobile batteries are required
to take them back and dispose of them properly. Make sure you take advantage
of this service.
- Find non toxic alternatives to hazardous household
products. Instead of mouse poison, for example, block holes, store food
in air tight containers, borrow a cat or try live trapping. Instead of
oven cleaner, scrub stains with baking soda.
Defining
"Green" Terms
It is hard to walk down a grocery store aisle
without seeing products claiming to be "recyclable," "biodegradable"
or simply "environmentally friendly." Because the only federal
laws overseeing use of environmental marketing claims are based on voluntary
compliance, there are no guarantees that products are really as "green"
as their claims indicate. Below are a listo of terms, and some things to
consider as you evaluate potential purchases.
- Recyclable- Products may not be recyclable
in communities where they are being sold, so bring a list of the items
recyclable in your area when you go to the store. Plastics in particular
are not widely recycled. You cannot rely on codes on plastic bottles. So
make sure you are aware of what your local service recycles.
- Less Packaging - This claim only makes
sense if there is an indication of what its packaging is "less than."
If it has less than competitor's products, or than previously marketed
versions of the same product, it is a good thing. However, that does not
necessarily mean it is the best product to buy. The best way to judge packaging
is to closely examine your options and compare them. Also, remember, buying
in bulk, or using refillable containers is the best way to reduce packaging.
- Made from recycled materials - Look for
a percentage listed, and the level of post consumer waste used. Post consumer
waste comes from products that have served their purpose, as opposed to
industrial by products or scraps. General "recycled" claims could
mean only a very small percentage of recycled materials were used.
- Biodegradable - Almost everything will
be biodegradable, eventually, under certain conditions but it may take
hundreds or thousands of years. The more information listed for products
claiming to be biodegradable - or degradable or photodegradable - the better.
Only pick products that will degrade after a short period of time, after
customary disposal.
- Environmentally Safe - If a product makes
a very broad, general claim about the environment it could mean almost
anything. A product may not contain chloroflourocarbons, for example, but
may be made out of a petroleum product and therefore be harmful to the
environment.
Look for detailed, concrete information on environmental
claims, and be wary of general statements. Some states have laws on "green"
labeling that are stricter than federal regulations.
Call your state Attorney General
with labeling problems or questions. Consumers can also register complaints
about marketing claims to: The National Advertising Division of the Council
for Better Business Bureaus, 4200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 800, Arlington VA
22203.
|
Click below to e-mail this article to a friend
or to post a link on your favorite sites.
Thank you!
 |
Written by:EcoMall
RELATED LINKS:
Updated Daily!
| * * * IN-HOUSE RESOURCES * * * |
|---|