Green shopping

Before you buy: Repair, make it, borrow, swap, rent
Resisting the urge to buy a new thing helps reduce both extraction of resources and pollution:

  • When something breaks, stop and google how to fix it before throwing it away. You can learn to fix almost anything on Youtube!
  • Youtube is also a great source of “make it yourself” videos.
  • You can also borrow from or swap with a friend or rent (for example, tools from a home improvement store).
  • Try the ISO Sault or Sault Bartering groups on Facebook to find someone to fix/make it for you.

Buy less/smaller

  • Constantly ask yourself: “Do I really need it?”
  • Plan meals in advance to avoid food waste.
  • Shop with a list to avoid impulse buys. Stick to the list!
  • If a recipe calls for two bananas, only buy two unless you know you will eat the rest before they go bad. Bulk stores are great because you can buy exactly the amount you need.
  • Shrink your buys…get a crossover vehicle instead of a pickup (for the few times a year you need to haul a load, you can rent a trailer for a small sum), a smaller lawnmower (or even a manual one!), a battery string trimmer instead of a gas one, a French press instead of a Keurig. Whenever possible, buy manual instead of electric! The world is drowning in small electric appliances.
  • When shopping online, wait 24 hours before pressing the Order button.

Shop less often

  • The fewer times you go out, the fewer opportunities you have to buy things you don’t need.
  • Pooling errands also cuts down on vehicle emissions.

Buy local
We cannot take care of the environment without a strong local economy, and small businesses are our economic backbone. Plus buying locally produced items helps cut shipping emissions. Some tips:

  • Small businesses don’t always have the time to maintain detailed websites or keep Facebook pages current; take the time to give them a call and ask for what you need.
  • Check out the Zero Waste Sault Ste. Marie group on Facebook for recommendations for local businesses selling green/zero waste products.
  • The Buy Algoma Buy Local website is a fantastic resource! It offers information on locally produced meat, fish, vegetables, fruit, mushrooms, baked goods, honey, maple syrup, preserves, beer, wine, and more. You’ll find links to farms and farmers markets, fishers, restaurants that use locally sourced ingredients, greenhouses and garden centres, and much more. FYI: Many local food producers are now investing in greenhouses so they can grow for more of the year, and some will even deliver to your door. Farmers markets are a great way to get a window into local products. Some farmers have a CSA (community-supported agriculture) program, where you get a weekly share in their harvest.

Buy quality
Ever heard that “Cheapskates always pay more?” What this means is buying quality items that last longer is not only better for the environment but also can save you money in the long run. For example, buying quality shoes every two years is better than buying poor-quality shoes at a big box store every six months.

The fashion industry is particularly problematic, producing mass quantities of ridiculously cheap garments that many people toss out after only a few wears. This industry now produces more emissions than aviation and shipping combined. Plus today polyester rules, and it is a huge source of plastic microfibres flowing into our lakes, rivers, and oceans. You can help by avoiding “fast fashion” — buy less, buy quality, buy items made with natural fibres from sustainable sources, and/or shop thrift.

Not everyone can afford to buy quality all the time — if your circumstances dictate you must buy on the cheap, don’t beat yourself up for that. It’s not always easy being green! One way to help cheap clothing last longer is to line dry it. Heat-drying is hard on clothing. Save more energy by washing in cold — today’s detergents are geared to cold water.

Buy secondhand
Buying used helps reduce the need and transport produce new stuff, which means less pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. When possible, choose locally owned and operated thrift stores that benefit charities. KIJIJI and local Facebook auction/sale groups also great resources for buying and selling secondhand items.

Read labels
Many products claimed to be green actually aren’t. For example:

  • Most so-called biodegradable plastics are no better than regular plastic in terms of their environmental impact, and they cause problems for recyclers because consumers mistakenly put them in recycling bins.
  • In the long run, single-use paper bags are better than plastic ones, but in the short run, they get two brown thumbs down because making and shipping these heavy, bulky bags results in a lot of toxic chemical pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Organic cotton is not always greener than regular cotton (this is complicated; google it to learn more).

Be skeptical of claims like natural, clean, sustainable, eco-friendly, green, and yes, even organic. If it sounds too good to be true — like compostable plastic or flushable wipes — it’s probably greenwashing (seriously, do not flush anything besides toilet paper!). And remember that a product that contains no toxic chemicals could be made in Chinese factories with deplorable working conditions. Green doesn’t always mean ethical.

Look for verification of green claims by independent organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council and Energy Star. Take the time to research and find the most energy-efficient appliances.

And read up on greenwashing to learn more about how companies use green claims to make them look good with no substance behind it.

Look for fewer ingredients
The longer the ingredient list, and the more ingredients you can’t pronounce, the more likely the product contains potentially harmful chemicals like BPA and pthalates or heavy metals like cadmium and lead.

Avoid single use, especially plastic
The world is drowning in trash, especially single-use plastics. Just say no to throwaway plastic cutlery, cheap dollar store pens, produce wrapped in plastic, and plastic toothbrushes and cleaning tools — as well as plastic containers, bottles, and jugs. Choose reusable and choose wood, cardboard, paper, natural fibres, glass — or buy used instead. Buy bar or powdered soap instead of plastic-jugged liquids.

Look for less packaging
It’s frustrating that so many “green” products comes wrapped in plastic or in a non-refillable plastic container. Choose products with the least packaging or at least recyclable packaging, and/or buy in bulk or at stores that allow you to refill/return containers. Two local stores that allow refilling are Bulk Barn and Hearterra.

Buy in season
Try to buy food in season and as mentioned above, eat locally produced food. When we buy food out of season, it generally must be transported a long way. The farther food has to be shipped, the higher the environmental footprint.

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bags)
Avoid single-use bags, paper as well as plastic, as both come with issues.

If you already own reusable bags, don’t fret over synthetic vs. cotton. Buying a new cotton bag is worse than continuing to use a synthetic bag you already have.

Want to know more? Here’s a great site on ethical shopping: ethicalconsumer.org/how-to-shop-ethically.

What did we leave out? Email your suggestions to us at info@cleannorth.org.

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