5 WAYS TO SHOP GREEN IN 2012

Here we are looking at another New Year.

My favorite part has always been the resolutions.  A fresh start.  Another chance.  Here are a couple of suggestions to improve the odds for 2012 and save some money along the way.

Have you heard of the term buycotting?  It’s the opposite of boycotting.  Instead of refusing to buy something you disapprove of, be sure to vote with your dollars and spend wisely to support green business where ever you can.  With the economy in the toilet, and the government doing precious little to boost sustainable business, wouldn’t it be great if in 2012 the greenest parts of the economy begins to boom because consumers see their value and support them.  In many cases you can get it cheaper from China, but where is that leading us?

1.  Fair Indigo  I first found out about this company when I got assigned to write an article about them a couple of years ago.  This is a clothing store attempting to change the sweat shop horrors of the apparel industry.  Their motto is Look Good, Feel good, Do Good. So when you are thinking about a new outfit, check out their website first.  You may find just what you want assembled under Fair Trade conditions, or make of organic material, or reused material – or all three.  Read what the NYT had to say about them here.

 2.  ReUseIt   It takes very little time to reuse containers and stop leaving a trail of plastic bags and bottles, but it’s even easier if you set yourself up with some well-designed re-usable storage tools.  A really good place to find what you need is ReUseIt – a company dedicated to replacing disposables.  They are having a post holiday sale right now too.  (Who isn’t?)

3.  Learn to Love Lentils!  If you want to save some money and save the planet at the same time, walk past the meat counter, the next time you grocery shop.  I just read this week in Forks over Knives: The Plant-based Way to Health that, according to a 1997 report by the Senate Agriculture Committee, animals raised for slaughter produce 130 times as much waste as the entire human population.

A 2006 University of Chicago study found that the average American gets 47% of their calories from animal products.  That creates 2.52 tons of CO@ emissions per person per year.  If the average American meat eater were to reduce his or her intake of animal produce to 25%, he or she would shave a ton off their carbon footprint!

Truth in advertising – I’m a vegetarian, but many different sources all agree that every burger you bypass is good for your health and slows environmental degradation.

Food for thought.

4.  Recyclebank   I just learned about this organization while perusing The Kitchn.   Danny Seo says Recyclebank is a new, free online community that rewards eco-conscious behavior with coupons.  I had kind of given up on coupons, because they tend to be for cake mixes and prepared foods that I don’t find appealing.

But an assortment of variably green  companies are  offering  the thrill of the coupon chase to their products.

5.  What would you add to this list?  Sound off!  Let us hear from you.  Have you got any green resolutions?

Happy New Year!