April 22, 2010 marked the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. It’s a day where people around the world think about the earth and consciously make changes to better the environment. While most of us would like to help protect the earth, we hesitate to “go green” because we think it costs too much, or we simply don’t know how.
Paying a premium for goods, just because they’re good for the environment, is a tough sell particularly given the current economy. However, buying eco-friendly products and services doesn’t necessarily mean paying more. Shopping green doesn’t need to be difficult either. Here are seven easy ways that you can save money by shopping green.
1. Learn the four R’s: reduce, reuse, recycle and respect.
2. Buy Less
Shopping green seems like an oxymoron at first. Obviously, not buying anything at all would be best for the environment. Realistically, people need to make purchases and consume things. It’s part of life. Earth Day is about responsibility. Thinking about the impact your purchases have on the environment is part of being a responsible consumer. One of the most important things you can do to help the environment is to purchase things that you need, and purchase less of the things that you don’t. Buying less is not only good for the environment, it’s also good for your wallet.
3. Buy in Bulk
For the things that you need, buying in bulk can be both eco-friendly and cost effective. Bulk items usually use less packaging than smaller items. This has both the benefit of using less energy to manufacture the packaging and it keeps the waste out of the landfills. Retailers also often charge less for bulk items.
4. Buy Recycled
Recycled materials are cheaper to make as they take less energy to manufacture. Consequently, many recycled products are cheaper than non-recycled products. Most recycled products are of comparable quality. Aluminum and tin cans, glass containers, and pulp cardboard have a fair amount of recycled content.
5. Buy Quality
Buying green doesn’t mean that the products will all be made out of hemp. Many of the ordinary products that you see in the stores can be eco-friendly. Purchasing quality products rather than cheaply made products will ensure that they last longer. While it may cost a bit more upfront, you’ll save in the long run since you won’t have to replace it as often.
6. Buy Used Items
Buying used items keeps them out of landfills. They also cost less than new. Garage sales and second hand stores are great sources for local used items. You can also go online and shop at sites like Craigslist.org and eBay.com.
7. Shop Online for Eco-friendly Retailers
While it’s unlikely that there are many green retailers at your local shopping center or mall, there are thousands of green specialty retailers online. You can find a directory of green retailers at http://www.EcoFriendlySites.org, with links to over 700 eco-friendly businesses.
