Between gas usage from driving and plastic bags for carrying out your purchases, it's hard to take an eco-friendly shopping trip. If you're concerned about the environment, follow these four steps to become an eco-conscious consumer.
1. Repair Rather Than Replace
When something breaks or wears out, consider repairing the damaged parts rather than buying a whole new product. For example, if you like to hunt and your gun's cut warps, look for replacement Nashville TN RDO cuts. If you ride your bike around town and your tires wear out, get new ones instead of shopping for another bike.
2. Keep Your Shopping Local
Whenever possible, go shopping close to your home. This practice saves gas and encourages people to keep offering services in your area.
3. Bring Your Own Bags
The Earth Policy Institute estimates that the world uses a trillion plastic bags annually and around 2 million every minute. While some of these plastic bags get reused as trash bags or recycled into clothes and bottles, most end up in landfills. Whether you shop at big box stores or small, locally-owned businesses, bring your own reusable bags instead of using the provided disposable ones. Not only does this action prevent waste, but it also encourages other consumers in your area to think about the environment.
4. Think Before You Buy
There are some purchases that you can't avoid, such as clothes for work, groceries for dinner, and school supplies for your kids. Impulse purchases in the checkout line or online chip away at your budget and increase your carbon footprint. Before you add an item to your real or virtual shopping cart, think about whether you really need it.
These four steps make it easier to shop with the environment in mind, lowering your carbon footprint and helping the planet.
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