6-point checklist for smart buying

 

On average, re-using, reconditioning, recycling and buying sustainable not only minimises waste and conserves resources but reduces the energy used to make a product by between 35 and 95%.

We often need to replace an item with a new purchase, but there are some easy ways to ensure that you buy products with the smallest eco-footprint. Ultimately, buying sustainable is the best way to vote with your wallet and increase market demand for efficient and sustainable goods.

1. Don't impulse buy. Where possible, use a shopping list and don't buy something you don't need just because it's a bargain.
2. Replace shopping therapy with more climate-friendly activities: meet with friends, take a walk, visit a gallery, learn a new skill, do voluntary work.
3. Ask yourself, "Do I really need it and will I use it often?" Ask yourself this every time you purchase something. If the answer is ‘No', don't buy it.
4. Buy only as much as you will use of perishable items such as fresh fruit and vegetables, cooked food, cheese and diary products, bread and body care products. The same goes for new plants and seedlings: only buy what you know you will be able to transplant within a few days.
5. Buy sustainable. Always consider shopping for items made from sustainable and renewable sources that can be recycled. Buy second-hand, reconditioned and vintage goods where practical; books, music, clothes, shoes, furniture, appliances, building materials and products and home accessories are just the most common examples.
6. Refuse unnecessary packaging. Carry a shopping bag and refuse all unnecessary wrapping.