- Buy reusable shopping bags made of an eco-friendly material, like organic cotton,
so that you won’t need to use plastic bags each time you shop.
- Use CFL light bulbs to conserve energy.
- Buy organic foods, fabrics, and other organic products as much as possible.
- Use chemical-free cleaning and gardening products whenever you can.
- Purchase Energy Star appliances.
- Buy products made of sustainably-harvested, renewable wood materials.
- Replace leaky faucets, toilets made before 1992 (they use much more water
than their newer counterparts,) and use water saving low-flow showerheads.
- Use a composting bin for your organic waste, and use the earth-friendly compost for
your gardening needs.
There are a number of certifications you might come across. Here’s a sampling of some:
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Energy Star: Energy Star products, including light bulbs and appliances, use less
energy than their non-certified counterparts. Energy Star is a joint program of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.
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Recyclable labels: Depending on the specific label, these indicate that a
product is either made from recycled materials, is recyclable, or both.
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Oeko-Tex Certification: This label indicates that textiles include no
harmful chemical substances.
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Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Seal: This means that a product is
made of wood from a well-managed, sustainable forest, as opposed to wood from a
threatened rain forest. The wood is not over-harvested, which helps to protect
the environment, including endangered species.
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USDA Organic: This certifies that a food is made without antibiotics, genetic
engineering, most synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides.
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Rainforest Alliance Certified: Used on products including coffee, chocolate,
and bananas, this label means that companies practice soil and water conservation as
well as reduced pesticide use.
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Green Seal: Green Seal products, such as napkins, paper, towels, and
toilet paper, meet recycling and bleaching standards in order to limit environmental impact.
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WHY BUY GREEN?
Eco-friendly products have come a long way. In the past, you may have had to give
something up, whether it was style or convenience, in order to make environmentally-friendly
shopping choices. Now, green products are widely available and widely appealing. You’ll
easily find
natural cleaning products
that really work,
organic cotton bedding
and towels
that are soft and luxurious,
reusable shopping totes
that are as much a fashion statement
as a way to avoid filling landfills with plastic bags, and appealing renewable wood choices
for furniture, cutting boards, bowls, and more.
In today’s marketplace, some of the most
desirable products available are green.
Shopping green not only helps our planet but can help your family’s health. Eco-friendly
products help limit your exposures to toxic chemicals in paints, cleaning supplies,
fertilizers,
pesticides, fabrics, and more. Why risk even minimal exposures when there are great alternatives
readily available?
Choosing energy conserving products, such as CFL light bulbs and
energy star rated appliances,
not only helps conserve natural resources, it helps save money on your utility bills each month.
The same goes for water saving products, such as
shower heads and
toilets; you can save money on
your water bill while saving the world.
If it seems overwhelming to switch over to a more environmentally-sound lifestyle, keep in
mind that it can be a gradual process. Start a little at a time as you make new purchases,
and you’ll soon see how easy it can be to live more in line with nature’s needs.
In this guide, you’ll find some helpful general information on what to look for while
shopping green, as well as a sampling of environmentally-sound shopping choices for your
home. It’s impossible to list them all, since virtually every purchase you make probably
has both more and less eco-friendly alternatives. This guide and list is a good start
towards become a more conscious consumer.
There are some key reasons why some products are environmentally-friendly and others are not.
Here’s a basic list of key points to consider while shopping:
Renewable Resources: These are resources that can be replenished in a relatively short
amount of time, such as fast-growing bamboo or other sustainably-harvested wood.
Using renewable resources is clearly preferable to resources that result in the
destruction of rain forests or other parts of nature that will take thousands of
years, if ever, to re-grow.
Ecological Footprint: This refers to how much land it takes to support the resource
being grown for manufacturing.
Chemicals Used: The less chemicals used in growing, processing, or manufacturing a product,
the better it is for the environment.
Bio-degradable: Bio-degradable products end up decomposing, instead of filling up landfills.
Recyclable: If an item is recycled or recyclable, it is helping to avoid filling our
earth with landfills of discarded goods.
For fabrics, certified organic cotton is a great environmentally friendly choice. These cottons
are 100% natural, not genetically engineered, and grown on land free of synthetic
fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Organic cotton should also be processed
without using harsh chemicals, and dyed with products that contain no heavy metals,
according to Oeko-Tex standards. You may find that if you have sensitive, easily
irritated skin, the answer isn’t a higher thread count – it’s switching to organic cotton.
Other eco-friendly textile choices include bamboo, since it is a highly
renewable resource. Hemp, with a relatively small ecological footprint,
as well as fast growth and natural weed and pest resistance, which eliminate
the need for herbicides, pesticides and synthetic fertilizers, is another good
choice. Also consider natural fibers such as jute, sisal, soya, and seagrass.
Specific Products: Eco-friendly fibers are used to make a huge variety of goods.
Ones to look for include: towels, bed linens,
rugs, clothing, bags, and anything else
made of textiles.
Certifications: Oeko-Tex
It is a good idea to look for the FSC seal when shopping for wood products, such as
green
furniture or green building products. This seal means that a wood product has been
made with wood that has been grown responsibly, without overcutting, and comes from a
well-managed, sustainable forest, not an endangered rain forest.
It is particularly eco-friendly to purchase products made with highly renewable,
fast-growing bamboo, which is increasingly popular for uses from cutting boards to
decorative plates to flooring.
Reclaimed or salvaged wood are great choices.
Reclaimed wood generally comes from
deconstructed buildings, while forest salvaged wood comes from standing dead or fallen
trees. No new trees are cut down.
Specific Products: You can find a vast range of goods made of renewable wood, ranging
from home goods, such as cutting boards,
bowls, utensils, furniture, and more, to
building materials for your house,
such as siding, flooring, decking, roofing and beyond.
Certifications: Forest Stewardship Council Seal (FSC)
Choosing a
compact fluorescent light bulb
(CFL) over a traditional light bulb is an easy
and effective way to help the environment by saving energy. Energy Star rated CFLs
use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the
same amount of light, while lasting up to 10 times as long. They generate 70% less
heat, making them safer to use and potentially cutting energy costs from air conditioning.
The technology associated with these bulbs has reached the point where they are comparable
to standard bulbs in most roles and have become a viable alternative for the general public.
Most turn on instantly, product no sound, and are available in warm or cool color options.
They come in models rated to work indoors or outdoors, with
dimmer and tri-way switches,
and sizes and shapes to fit most fixtures. There even is a CFL designed to resemble a
standard A-line bulb. This is a top choice for quick and painless upgrading to an
environmentally-friendly outlook.
Specific Products: CFL light bulbs in a variety of shapes and sizes,
for indoor and outdoor use.
Certification: Energy Star
Whether you are replacing aging appliances gradually, or starting from scratch
with all new purchases, one of the best things you can do for the environment is
to choose products with the Energy Star label. These appliances use between 10
to 50% less energy and water than those without the label. This means you can
enjoy great new appliances while cutting your utility bills and practicing good
conservation.
Specific Products: You can save huge amounts of energy by choosing
energy efficient
clothes washing machines,
dishwashers,
refrigerators,
freezers,
room air conditioners,
dehumidifiers, and more.
Certification:Energy Star
Green bathroom products
provide a key opportunity to make an environmental
difference by saving water.
Water-saving or low-flow showerheads can cut water usage drastically, resulting
in savings in both money and a key natural resource. These models have come a
long way and you probably won’t notice much, if any, difference in
your water pressure.
Toilet flushing is the major source of water use in homes. If your toilet was
manufactured before 1992, you could make a great difference by installing newer
toilets that use a federally-mandated
1.6 gallons or less per flush. This is
compared to the 1980s typical gallons-per-flush of 3.5, and prior to that, as
high as 5.5 to seven gallons per flush. If you want to be even more
environmentally-friendly, there are
composting toilets available.
Replacing or repairing old and leaking fixtures will result in large water savings.
Even the smallest drip, over time, adds up to a lot of wasted water.
Specific Products: Look for water-saving or low-flow showerheads, as well as new
toilets, faucets, and general plumbing supplies.
Though this item could fall under the Textiles/Fabrics category, we feel it
deserves its own spot. Buying a
shopping bag is one of the easiest purchases
you can make, and if used regularly, it will keep countless plastic bags from
ending up in landfills. Choose one in organic cotton or hemp for increased
eco-friendliness. Be sure to pick a great look; these bags are also a fashion
statement and are available in earthy looks as well as in bright patterns and
other styles. Use it every time you shop, and you will be making a difference
in the world.
Take care of your lawn and garden in an eco-friendly manner with
green gardener’s supplies.
There are a host of organic products available to ensure that you can fertilize your
lawn and control pests without using chemicals that can harm your environment.
Organic fertilizers
and mulch are readily available for purchase; better yet,
make your own by using a composting bin.
A composting bin will allow you to
convert dried leaves, straw, grass clippings, and kitchen food waste into a
valuable gardening resource.
You can also conserve water and make energy-saving choices in your backyard.
Rain barrels
are a great way to collect water to reuse for gardening
purposes during dry spells. Also consider a
push lawn mower as a
fuel-free mowing alternative. Energy-efficient solar-powered outdoor
lighting products are widely available in many decorative styles to
accent your garden, lawn, or walkways.
Specific Products: Choices include composting bins, mosquito control rings and
other environmentally-friendly pest control products, organic fertilizer,
organic mulches, solar powered outdoor lights, and more.
You probably are already making at least some organic food choices in the supermarket.
But don’t forget to also consider organic options when sending edible presents,
such as fruit baskets, chocolates, wine, tea, and other gourmet and gorgeous gifts.
Before you choose a gift, check out the organic counterpart. It will be just as nice
and possibly mean a lot more to you, the recipient, and the environment.
Specific Products: Organic edible gifts available include fruits, chocolates, tea,
coffee, wine, and more.
Certifications: USDA Organic and Rainforest Alliance Certified (for coffee,
chocolate, and bananas.)
These products are made with natural ingredients instead of harsh chemicals. Using
these products can limit your exposure to unnecessary chemicals in your home,
as well as on your body. They often have stylish packaging, such as the
Mrs.
Meyer’s products line, and generally are available with great natural scents
or fragrance-free.
Specific Products: Look for household cleaners, such as dishwashing detergent,
dish soap, glass and wood cleaners, as well as personal organic beauty products,
such as facial cleansing gels, lotions, creams, and more.
Paints generally emit volatile organic compounds (voc), which can pose a health risk.
Look for low odor and low or no voc labels to ensure you are using the most
environmentally and health-friendly products. At a minimum, choose water-based
over oil/solvent-based paints as much as possible.
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