- What's the link between what I buy and the environment? A big one! Take an apple. It may have been grown with pesticides, transported many miles by plane or lorry to your supermarket and be packaged in polystyrene and plastic. Or, it may have been grown organically, brought to the shop from a local farm and sold loose without packaging. Choosing the second option will have caused less pollution from pesticides and exhaust fumes and less waste from packaging and will usually be a tastier and healthier fruit for you and your family to eat.
- Green is great, but I can't afford it! Making your money go as far as possible has to be your main concern. But there are still lots of things you can do that won't add pounds to your till receipt. Like remembering to take your shopping bags with you when you go to the supermarket. Buying locally-grown fruit and vegetables, rather than imported produce, doesn't always cost more and you'll be supporting your local economy as well as helping to cut down on pollution.
- There's so much to think about. Where do I begin? There are many links between what you buy and the long-term health of your family and the environment. At the end of the day, however, they boil down to a simple checklist:
- Is there an alternative with less packaging?
- Is the food grown locally or in the UK?
- Is there an organic version?
- Can I recycle the packaging (e.g. glass bottles)?
- Is the packaging or product made from recycled materials?
- Is it likely to have been made by exploited workers?
You won't always be able to tick every point, but just having it in your head when you're trying to choose which product to buy will make a difference.
Where can I find out more? Check out the links below for more information.
Shopping
Eco Shop (Wicklow, Ireland)
New Consumer Shop (UK)
Green Books (UK)
The Green Shop (UK)
Fairtrade
Ecover
Forest Stewardship Council
Local
http://www.irelandmarkets.com/
http://www.irishfarmersmarkets.ie/
Local Exchange Tradeing Systems
Meet up
Organisations & Campaigners
Sutainable Energy Ireland
Sustainable Ireland & Cultivate (Temple Bar)
Feasta
Soil Association
New Economics Foundation
Center for Alternative Technology
Friends of the Earth
Green Peace
WWF
Concern
Trocaire
Goal
Oxfam
Careers
The Ethical Careers Guide
People & Planet
Directories & Information
Ethical Junction
Green Guides Online
Free Radical
Climate Care & Renewable Energy
Energy Savings Trust
Good Energy
CO2 Balance
The Carbon Neutral Company
Climate Care
Ethical Investment
Ethical Investment Research Service
Triodos
The Ecological Building Society
The Co-operative Bank
Transport
Safe Routes to Schools (UK)
City Car Club
Travel
Responsible Travel Company
Waste Not: Reuse & Recycle
Remarkable
Freecycle
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