Monday, February 5, 2007

Shopping Green

Original posting on Live Green in Plano.

Shopping is one of the most significant things we can do to Live Green. Your dollar is a powerful medium in which you can support green products and practices. Below, you will find tips for shopping and local places to invest your money. Remember- when you Rebuy recycled products, you “close the loop”!

Here are some tips for Shopping Green:
  • Avoid single-use items. Instead buy reusable or repairable products.
  • Use and reuse gift bags, scarves, towels, comics, ribbons and bows to wrap and decorate gifts.
  • Rent, don’t buy, infrequently used tools.
  • Take your own cloth, paper or plastic bags to the store instead of getting new ones every trip.
  • Buy products with less packaging.
  • Buy in bulk.
  • Donate or sell used goods; shop at garage sales and resale shops.
  • Purchase items in concentrate when possible (the packaging is always significantly less).
  • Buy products that contain recycled materials. Glass, Steel, and aluminum bottles, jars, or cans have 20% or more recycled content.
  • Paperboard boxes (such as cereal and shoe boxes) are made from almost 100% recycled materials.
  • Avoid foam containers, waxed milk and juice cartons, and any single serve boxes.
  • Repair old items instead of buying new ones.
  • Select recycled-content writing paper and envelopes; buy refillable pens and pencils.
  • Buy a low-flow showerhead and install it.

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