Did you know that global warming is responsible for making the earth’s surface hotter, causing the glaciers in the north and south poles to melt at a rapid rate? There was a time when industrialization was seen as a positive step towards modernizing society. Still, today, overproduction of goods and questionable methods of disposing of the waste is why our planet is at the risk of no longer being able to sustain human life in the generations to come. Furthermore, chlorofluorocarbon or CFCs and greenhouse gases produced as a result of mass production of consumer goods are highly damaging to the health of our environment and therefore make us become eco-shopper more challenging.
Since there is not much that can be done to stop large corporations from manufacturing goods, the least we can do is to limit our consumption of goods and buy only what we need to prevent environmental damage in the long run. Eco shopping, or green shopping as they call it, is all about being environmentally conscious and purchasing products that do not affect the environment negatively or contribute towards global warming. To become an Eco-shopper, you must weigh the pros and cons of how your decisions when purchasing goods affect the environment. Click for more details.
Green shopping revolves around three fundamental concepts: reduce, reuse and recycle
Reduce
This first concept includes purchasing products that do not consume large amounts of naturally occurring resources and refraining from buying unnecessary products to curb the amount of waste created.
Reuse
The entire crux of the green concept is based on reusing old stuff. Therefore, Eco shoppers must seek out products made from previously used materials or ingredients so that the cycle of reusing can continue.
Recycle
Recycling is an essential factor that contributes to saving the environment. Eco shoppers opt for buying products that can be recycled and reused or products that have been created using recycled materials.
What to Look For In ‘Green’ Products
Certain products are 100% green and are made from used and recycled materials. Products that do not fall under this category can be judged for their environmental friendliness on the following criteria.
When it comes to buying a green product, your biggest concern would naturally be its durability. Green products have a longer than usual life and are of premium quality. For instance, rechargeable batteries are known to last longer than standard batteries. So why not pick a green product that will last longer and not damage the environment?
Minimal packaging is the next factor that indicates exactly how environmentally friendly a product is. Again, the packaging is stripped down to the bare minimum to reduce waste for green products.
To become an Eco-shopper means buying used products because it would conserve energy and materials that would go into making a brand new product. In addition, it is best to purchase products that are used or reconditioned since they would not contribute to environmental damage.
Make an effort to check if the product is made from used and recycled materials or packaging since those are the products that are genuinely green and beneficial to our planet and environment. Whenever you are looking for a product that you will discard, go for a product that uses recycled content.
If you are looking to buy new electronic appliances that are green, then go for energy-efficient products and conserve electricity like LED bulbs and energy savers. In addition, when purchasing home appliances, choose those with an Energy Star certification, as CFCs play a vital role in contributing to the mass production of greenhouse gases.
These are some ways you can adopt a green lifestyle by becoming an Eco-shopper. If you have tips to share on how you can do your bit to save the environment and become an intelligent Eco-shopper, let us know below in the comments section.
Click here to check out some of our recommended green products for the holiday season.
