Green Shopping

Recyclable Shopping Bags

Grocery Store Etiquette I don’t think you can go into any grocery store in the country without seeing a rack full of reusable shopping bags – cloth bags with the logo a particular store on it, which usually sells for a dollar. I’ve found that using these bags slows me down, most of the time.  In my local grocery store, there’s a high turnover with clerks.  So just as soon as you get used to one checker, who handles the bags like a pro, affixing them to his or her turnstyle with ease, she leaves and her replacement has no clue how to pack them quickly and efficiently. Then of course there’s the cost.  They only cost a dollar, but chances are the first time you use it, you’ll leave the bag in your house, and the next time you go shopping, you won’t have it with you.  So you buy another one.  Eventually you get smart and buy a bunch of them.  You keep half of them in the trunk of your car, and so if you forget to restore the ones from your last shopping trip, you still have those.  But that’s still a cost you don’t need to pay. Certain stores ...

Rechargeable Batteries

The common batteries are likely to come along with serious hazards to our environment.  You can avoid wasting batteries by using rechargeable batteries.  The common batteries are manufactured using strong toxic materials, such as mercury.  As soon as these batteries are dumped in the trash bin, they will continue to pollute the environment in ways you couldn't imagine.  This must be avoided.  The rechargeable batteries may become the answer you are looking for because they are designed to be recycled.  There are plenty of companies that can direct you in order to find a local center that can recycle your batteries and electronics.  These types of products should only be thrown away in designated areas that properly dispose of your waste. Alkaline batteries may seem like a cost effective investment since they are cheaper.  It is important to consider, the more alkaline batteries add up, the more cost adds up.  Instead, you should purchase the rechargeable batteries.  They are better and more useful when compared to the alkaline batteries.  You will be saving your money too and the effects are long term.  These batteries function in the same way as the alkaline batteries, except rechargeable batteries are less dangerous for the ...

What is Fair Trade?

Around the world today, especially in developing countries, many men, women and children are breaking their backs to produce agricultural products and handicraft items at paltry daily wages, often just a dollar a day.  Along the market chain from producer to consumer, the finished products are sold at prices ten times, even a hundred times, more than the wages paid to manufacture them. Add in the hazardous working conditions and the damage wrought upon the environment by the manufacturing processes involved and you have a clear case of unfair trade practices.  Fortunately, the concept of fair trade is gaining worldwide acceptance among producers and consumers. Fair Trade Defined Fair trade is the organized social movement that seeks to achieve a two-pronged objective.  First, the implementation of fair trade practices can assist producers to attain a better quality of life through the payment of fair wages as well as the provision of opportunities for equal employment and advancement, financial and technical assistance, and safe working conditions. Second, the appropriate application of fair trade principles promotes environmental sustainability through the use of eco-friendly manufacturing processes and practices.  The environmental aspect is most often achieved through the safe handling and minimal use of agrochemicals, resource conservation especially ...

Searching For Environmentally Friendly Paints!

Whether you are looking to paint your shed or you are tired of blank white walls, you may be all set to search out your favorite colors and go to work, but what does your home improvement project mean for the environment?  The unfortunate truth is that paint can be very problematic for the environment and finding eco friendly solutions is not nearly as easy as it should be.  The problem that you are going to run into, however, is that the things that make paint as durable as it is tend to be very rough on the world, and that can make painting the exterior of any building a daunting task. The first thing that you should be aware of is how paint affects the environment.  Though lead in paint was once a major concern, this type of paint has now been outlawed.  Do be concerned though, of old paint jobs that might have lead still in them.  Be aware of the fact that many paints will produce volatile organic compounds, things that will be released into the air even after the paint dries.  These VOCs have been known to cause cancer in animals and in humans, but even their ...

Impact of Convenience Packaging

How conscious are you when it comes to your day to day purchases?  Has it ever crossed your mind on how good or bad this can be to our environment?  It is appalling to see the amount of waste caused from packaging.  Imagine a trip to the deli just to buy a sandwich wrapped in three layers of plastic and paper protection which is more than it really needs plus tons of napkins on the side.  Or let’s say for example if you purchase an item online having the same size of a pocketbook and it is delivered at your door inside a box that can fit a 14 inch TV covered in an enormous amount of bubble wrap and Styrofoam.  This is already generating a lot of garbage.  How much is too much?  The thought of it ensures us much convenience knowing that our food stays fresh longer or products we buy are in good condition.  But then again this kind of action is ridiculously too much. People tend to neglect this little kind of action not thinking of the big negativity that comes with it.  Thinking and considering your options when it comes to purchasing something.  It is not ...