The Basics
How we shop affects the planet in all kinds of ways. When we're at the checkout, it can be easy to forget about all the steps involved in getting our products to the shops. But this process can be complex, involving a long supply chain of natural resources and workers from around the world.
Why does it matter? Depending on your choices, you could be encouraging environmentally damaging or unethical business practices. None of us knowingly wants to support a business that uses sweat shop labour or harms the planet. So where do you start?
Arguably one of the most effective ways simply to reduce your carbon footprint is to buy less where possible – and to ensure that what you do buy is made to last.
When you are at the shops,
you can also ensure your purchases don't harm the planet or other people by choosing companies with clear ethical and environmental policies.
Fair trade is one way to do this, but there are many other ethical
kitemarks to look out for.
In our Lifestyle & Family section, we'll be looking at all these issues and helping you to become a green shopper for you and your family.
Buy less, save more!
It’s tempting to spend all the money we have or can borrow, but almost everything we buy has a carbon footprint. The CO2 may be emitted where the product was manufactured – in China, for example – but they’re arguably still the responsibility of the end consumer.
Cutting down the number of goods you purchase by a fifth can take around five per cent off your carbon footprint. It will also help you to save up for green investments such as better insulation or solar panels.
Of course, spending less won’t be green if you simply shift to inexpensive products that are likely to need replacing sooner than higher-quality alternatives.
Buy and sell second-hand
Many of the world’s carbon emissions are caused by the manufacture of goods – everything from tables to computers. Buying second-hand and selling or donating items you don’t use helps minimise unnecessary manufacture, saving energy and resources.
Reducing your purchase of new consumer goods (everything from newspapers to clothes) by a fifth would reduce your carbon footprint by around 0.4 tonnes of CO2 per year. That’s equivalent to a return flight from London to Madrid.
Embrace ethical products
From fairly traded jewellery to sustainably sourced wooden toys, ethical products are no longer a niche market.
As more companies consider their social and environmental "footprints" – and produce goods to cater for more conscientious consumers – so ethical shopping has entered the mainstream.
The move by some supermarkets to stock only fair trade teas and coffee is just one example. But ethical products are now appearing in all areas of our lives.
So whether you're switching to an environmentally friendlier washing powder or looking for sweatshop-free fashion, there are plenty of good green options to choose from.
Buy stuff to last
Much modern fashion seems almost disposable – cheap to buy but often cheap quality too. What good is buying cheap stuff when you constantly have to replace it? It’s greener, when possible, to buy fewer but good quality clothes that last longer.
The same is true for other purchases; if buying new, favour longevity – items that will last rather than need replacing after a year or two.
Repairing clothes when buttons get lost or seams come apart is also a good idea. You could even make them from scratch.
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