Do this |
Because |
|
| Reuse plastic bags |
Any
bags you receive at the check-out can be reused. They can become
trashbags and storage containers. That way you do not have to throw
them away and you pollute less because you do not purchase bags. |
not enough |
| Bring cloth bags for shopping groceries |
Cloth
bags can be reused hundreds of times. If you ask you may even get a few
cents back at the cash register for not using the store's bags. |
noticeable |
| Buy things that have less packaging |
Compare
items. Some have more packaging than others. You are paying for the
packaging too. And packaging pollutes in the land-fill as well as
during its manufacturing. |
not enough |
| Leave packaging in store |
Leaving
the packaging in the store will tell the store owner that the customers
do not want all that packaging and sends a strong signal. Well, it
worked in other places. |
noticeable |
| Buy (but do not consume!) larger portions |
The
larger the item the less packaging you purchase per volume of the item.
It requires more packaging to wrap several small containers than one
larger one. Buy the bigger box and pollute less. |
not enough |
| Find out where the things are made before you decide to buy them |
Becoming an informed consumer allows you to make better decisions also in regard to pollution issues. If it is heavy, transport pollution
is high for any distance. The further it travels, the worse it is. If
it needed to be transported from far away and arrive fast, it probably
arrived in this country by airplane. You decide whether this pollution
is justified. Also, do not forget that other countries have often much
less stringent environmental regulations. |
noticeable |
| Buy items in containers you can use for something |
Often
you have the choice to purchase an item in a container that is strong
enough to be reused. Some mayonnaise jars for instance make great
containers for any small parts such as nails, screws, buttons,... when
they are empty (important!). You pollute less because you do not throw away and you do not purchase another item new. |
noticeable |
| Encourage stores to close their entrance doors when they have the A/C running. |
Air-conditioning
systems cool the inside by removing the heat from the inside air and
dumping it outside. Running the air-conditioning AND having the store
door open results in the A/C trying to cool the inside (and outside
because door is open) while it is at the same time heating the outside
(and the inside because door is open). This makes no sense and creates
a lot of pollution. |
not enough |
| Close the store's door when the A/C is on |
The
sales people may open it again, but if you are lucky it will stay
closed for a while and actually cool the store to a level that allows
the A/C to turn off. Even better: Talk to the store owner about the
pollution cause by A/C. |
significant |
| Boycott stores that refuse to close doors while AC is running |
If
they give you a hard time, refuse to purchase the item, tell them you
will not come back, and don`t go back. Why would you support a business
that pollutes like this? |
noticeable |
| Combine trips to different stores |
Go
shopping on the way to where ever you have to go anyways. Don't make
large detours to get what you want if similar items can be purchased
closer even if more expensive. |
noticeable |
| Purchase items that will last longer |
An
item that lasts longer may be a bit more expensive but needs to be
replaced less often. That results in a reduction of production and less
pollution. You may pay a bit more, but society pays a bit less. |
significant |
| Purchase items that can be repaired |
An
item that can be repaired will last longer and will not need to be
replaced soon. Many items are designed to break. It keeps the economy
(and pollution) going. You pollute less only if you actually repair the
item when it breaks. |
significant |
| Purchase only what you really need |
A
product you don't really need pollutes to fulfill your "wants". To
really pollute less you have to sacrifice some pleasures that you had
until now. If you do not need it - don't buy it. If it is not broken
beyond repair - don`t replace it. Saves money, storage space, reduces
trash and pollutes less because of reduction in production |
significant |
| Forget fashion/style/status. |
Many
products are simply bought because you have certain believes in regard
to fashion, style, or status of a product. The product is not really
needed, you just want to have it to feel better. Find a good therapist
instead! That probably pollutes less than buying stuff you do not need,
that breaks fast, and gobbles up energy and resources. |
significant |
| Buy no-name products |
If
a brand name is important to you, do yourself a favor and find evidence
that this brand is proven to be better and not only believed to be
better. No-name products pollute less because less energy is used for
advertising and marketing the product. |
not enough |
| Buy products that are reviewed to be better |
Thanks
to the internet it is now easy to find customer reviews for almost any
kind of product in regard to its durability. If the product is judged
well, you can buy with more confidence. A product that lasts longer
pollutes less. |
noticeable |
| Wait a few years before you buy it |
Purchase
items that are on the market for a while; that means they are not just
a fad and you can use them longer without being ridiculed, feeling
old-fashioned, or out of style. You could also just not care about
fashion and buy it any time. |
noticeable |
| Buy nothing that is new to the market |
Products
that are not made well disappear fast. Purchase items that have proven
themselves on the market for a while. That means they are probably made
well and will last you a while. |
noticeable |
| Do you research by phone or internet |
Driving
from store to store cost time and energy. If it is possible (and
sometimes it is better to be in the presence of an item) do your
research in ways that pollute less. Much relevant information,
technical data, product reviews, etc. can be researched by phone or
internet. |
noticeable |
| Don’t get a bag if you don’t need one. |
Dare
to say "No, thank you, I do not need a bag". It is surprising how often
we get offered a bag. Sometimes for a single item that is already in a
bag. If you can carry it easily, skip the bag. |
not enough |
| Research on web |
Like all shopping, driving from store to store requires much more energy than doing research on the web. |
significant |
| Don’t purchase from different stores online |
If
you order from several distributors you create more pollution because
several packages are going to be sent to you. If you order from one
store maybe only one shipment gets sent. You might save on shipping and
handling costs and save money overall, even if some items are less
expensive somewhere else. |
not enough |
| Purchase locally |
You
pollute less because you avoid the shipping of small parcels. You may
have to pay more, but large shipments to stores create less pollution
per item than getting them shipped directly to you. |
noticeable |
| Ask sales clerk about energy consumption of a product |
Asking
many questions will eventually result in the idea that low energy use
seems to be important. Sooner or later this will be conveyed to people
who make product design decisions. |
not enough |
| Combine items to be transported in one shopping bag. |
When
purchasing small items in several stores you do not need a bag from
each store. Just put it all in one bag. Better even, have your own
reusable bag. |
not enough |
