Shopping
Today's society is consumer based
which means we have great consumer power. As more people buy environmentally
friendly products suppliers must meet this demand. Next time you are out shopping
look a little closer at the labelling and think a little harder about where
your shopping came from and how it was produced.
- Choose fresh produce carefully
- Buy organic produce. The cultivation
of non-organic produce involves the use of damaging chemicals such as pesticides,
which can pollute waterways and the rest of the environment
- Buy fruit and vegetables that
are in season to help reduce enormous transport costs resulting from importing
produce and, where possible, choose locally produced food
- When buying fish look out for
'eco-labelling' such as the Marine Stewardship Council(MSC) logo, eat a
variety of non-endangered species and buy local fish if possible
- Replace one meat meal per week
with a vegetarian option. Land used for beans and vegetables produces 10
times as much protein as land used for raising beef
- Use your consumer power
- Look for the Forest Stewardship
Council (FSC) logo when buying wood products, from paper to raw timber.
This ensures the wood comes from a well managed forest
- Choose energy-efficient appliances
and light bulbs
- Don't buy products with excessive
amounts of packaging and, where possible, choose products with re-useable
containers
- Buy pump-action sprays rather
than aerosols - even alternatives to CFCs can contribute to greenhouse gases
- Buy recycled or recyclable products
such as toilet tissue and stationery
- If you can't see recycled or
'eco-labelled' products, ask the store manager to stock them
- Reduce your personal impact
- If you are going to the supermarket
by car, take a friend with you - one car journey is better than two
- Take your own bag or re-use
plastic carriers when shopping
- Buy in bulk wherever possible
- it saves packaging and money
- Health
Don't buy head lice shampoos that contain pesticides. Use homeopathic alternatives
or a fine-toothed metal comb instead
- Ask your vet to recommend or
supply a flea killer for your pet that does not contain pesticides
- On-line shopping
- Purchase solar powered products
from Solar Century's website - WWF will receive five per cent of each purchase
made
- Send e-cards, if you can, rather
than buy paper card
