AT THE STORE



The first thing we'll say is that if you don't have to buy it, don't.  We're not saying go and live on a commune.  We're just saying that there's more to life than the mall, and there's a heck of a lot of carbon coming from all that stuff nobody needs.

SUPPORT LOCAL SHOPS

Oh, okay.  One more thing.  Those big-box stores in the middle of nowhere?  You have to drive to get there, and chances are they used to be green spaces.   We can't keep sprawling forever, so try to shop on main streets, or in pedestrian-based malls if you can.  You may even get a bit of exercise.

That being said, we know you shop.  So here are some tips on how to shop more greenly.

THE CUSTOMER IS ALWAYS RIGHT

You already know the golden rule of shopping: The customer's always right.  The trick is to make it a green rule of shopping, too.  They need your cash, so make them work for it.  Don't be afraid to speak up!  You're not alone.  And the more people who tell businesses that we expect them to clean up their act, the faster they'll do it.

We know it's hard.  You're polite.  But if you see something that ticks you off in a store, let the manager know.  Or pop an email to the company feedback line.  They need to know that you care.  And if the manager doesn't know the answer, ask him or her to get head office to pop you a note.  The more companies think about these things, the more they'll get the message that they need to change.



DON'T GET WRAPPED UP IN PACKAGING

If light bulbs can be sold in thin cardboard sleeves, can't the same be said for video games and memory cards? And tonnes of it is plastic, which of course comes from oil—it's pollution at every step.  Extract the oil, make the plastic, ship the plastic, then ship the plastic to the dump.

• Don't buy overpackaged products.

• Tell the manager why. 

• Pop an email to the company.

If you don't see changes, then hit them where it counts: in their pockets. Everyone loves a good old-fashioned boycott!

NEED A BAG? BRING YOUR OWN

Bring your own bag when shopping. A backpack, tote or canvas sack is so much more comfortable to carry than a plastic bag. Worldwide about 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic shopping bags are produced a year which comes out to over one million per minute.¹ Oh, and when you pull out your bag at the cash, mention this startling fact: According to the Waste Reduction Week in Canada website, Canadians use 55 million plastic shopping bags a week.² Gross.

BUY LOCAL

Think about where things are made.  Take food, for example.  It doesn't have to travel from around the world, packed in styrofoam and plastic wrap.  You'll be helping your local economy and the planet by buying local produce where you can.

Buying locally not only ensures your food is fresh, i.e. it wasn't shipped in from Florida a week ago, but it also makes less of a footprint on the environment. The energy and emissions generated from packaging and importing food are astonishing.  According to Green Tips: How To Save Money And The Planet, food flown in from California or overseas has changed ownership three times, traveled over 4,000 km and is more than a week old. Not to mention the pesticides they use to ensure your food remains 'fresh' a week later.

BUY RECYCLED

If you're in school and buying lots of paper, make sure it's recycled.  Same's true for around the house for bathroom or kitchen tissue.  The thing to check out is the post-consumer recycled content—that means it's made from things someone else has already recycled.  If it's not recycled, don't buy that paper!  Simple.  It's up to you to create markets for recycled products.

MAKE SURE IT'S GREEN

And don't just take a company's word that something is green.  Look for independent validation—like the Environment Canada logo; Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) seal of approval; or independent energy efficiency seals on things like appliances.

THE FIVE SIMPLE RULES

In short, five simple rules.

1. If you don't need it, don't buy it.

2. Shop local, buy local if you can.

3. Not happy with the store's green selection or eco-options? Speak up. Often. 

4. Create markets for good products like recycled paper; shrink markets for bad things like plastic bags.

5. Check out independent verification for which products are green.

But most of all, remember the golden rule.  You're the customer.  You're right.  And you work hard for your money—so make businesses work hard for it, too.

^{1 Source: www.reusablebags.com/facts
2 Source: www.wrwcanada.com}