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Buying Groceries Tips
Packaging
Many products that we buy are over-packaged and as soon as we get home the packaging is thrown in the trash, or at best it is recycled. Packaging now accounts for a third of all household waste. Most packaging ends up in the landfill where it takes a long time to decompose and can give off harmful gases and toxins that pollute the air and water. The government has taken legislative measures to force businesses to stop using “excessive” amounts of packaging. To cut down on packaging even more, consumers need make smart choices too. Try to avoid unnecessary packaging when you purchase individual and over-packaged items to help reduce your financial and environmental costs.
Learn more at the New American Dream
Many products that we buy are over-packaged and as soon as we get home the packaging is thrown in the trash, or at best it is recycled. Packaging now accounts for a third of all household waste. Most packaging ends up in the landfill where it takes a long time to decompose and can give off harmful gases and toxins that pollute the air and water. The government has taken legislative measures to force businesses to stop using “excessive” amounts of packaging. To cut down on packaging even more, consumers need make smart choices too. Try to avoid unnecessary packaging when you purchase individual and over-packaged items to help reduce your financial and environmental costs.
Learn more at the New American Dream
Ways to Avoid Excess Packaging
Consider the following:
Consider the following:
- Avoid buying fruit and vegetables that come in plastic trays or are wrapped in plastic.
- Buy in bulk or economy-sized containers. Any excess can often be stored in air-tight containers or frozen for later.
- Cut down on take-out, whose wrappers and packages makes up a large percentage of packaging waste. Packing food and drinks if you’re going to be out and about will cut down on this. You can also use your own reusable cup in many coffee shops.
- Buy re-usable, rather than disposable, items wherever possible.
- Where packaging is unavoidable, look for packaging that’s made from recycled products and which is recyclable.
Buying Organically
Agriculture is a major contributor to emissions of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2). On a global scale, agricultural land use in the 1990s has been responsible for approximately 15% of all GHG emissions. Organic farming generally uses less energy than non organic farming to produce the same amount mainly because it uses organic matter and soil biology for crop nutrition, instead of energy-intensive fertilizers. In particular, organic farming reduces fossil fuel energy use by using natural rather than industrial processes. Also, organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from conventional farms.
Learn more at the Organic Farming Research Foundation, Organic Consumers Association (OCA), and the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM)
Agriculture is a major contributor to emissions of methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2). On a global scale, agricultural land use in the 1990s has been responsible for approximately 15% of all GHG emissions. Organic farming generally uses less energy than non organic farming to produce the same amount mainly because it uses organic matter and soil biology for crop nutrition, instead of energy-intensive fertilizers. In particular, organic farming reduces fossil fuel energy use by using natural rather than industrial processes. Also, organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from conventional farms.
Learn more at the Organic Farming Research Foundation, Organic Consumers Association (OCA), and the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements (IFOAM)
Eating Locally
Buying local food not only helps local farmers thrive, it reduces energy consumption. Estimates on how long the average food travels from pasture to plate range from 1,200 to 2,500 miles. A lot of energy is expended freezing, refrigerating, and trucking that food around. Eating locally grown food means less fossil fuel burned in preparation and transport. Local food is often healthier, too. Even when it’s not organic, small farms tend to use fewer chemicals on their produce, fruits and meats than large factory farms.
Many grocery stores label from where the fruits, vegetables, meats, and other fresh foods they sell come from. Make a point to buy local when possible. Or visit your local farmer’s market, co-op or local resources.
Learn more at the New American Dream
Buying local food not only helps local farmers thrive, it reduces energy consumption. Estimates on how long the average food travels from pasture to plate range from 1,200 to 2,500 miles. A lot of energy is expended freezing, refrigerating, and trucking that food around. Eating locally grown food means less fossil fuel burned in preparation and transport. Local food is often healthier, too. Even when it’s not organic, small farms tend to use fewer chemicals on their produce, fruits and meats than large factory farms.
Many grocery stores label from where the fruits, vegetables, meats, and other fresh foods they sell come from. Make a point to buy local when possible. Or visit your local farmer’s market, co-op or local resources.
Learn more at the New American Dream
