If you’ve read any of my other articles, you probably know that almost a year ago I made a resolution to create less waste. I have come a long way from where I was at the beginning of the year. As I was able to make swaps and stick with them, I started to think of where else I could reduce waste. One spot to work on was shopping sustainably.
In the beginning, some of my easiest swaps were to recycled toilet paper, shampoo bars, a safety razor, and reusable bags. I’ve actually found that these swaps have saved me money and time as well. That was an unexpected bonus!
Read about the beginning of my journey here in my article on Ways I Want to Waste Less!
Anyways, I’ve been working on creating guidelines for shopping sustainably. As I begin to look for new more sustainable products to bring into my life, I’ve been trying to determine how sustainable these products actually are.
Below I’ve listed my buying criteria for making a sustainable purchase. I don’t follow these guidelines all the time but I try to stick to them as often as I can. The goal is continuous improvement and better choices each day!
First, Stop Buying Single Use Products
This is where I started my shopping sustainably journey. I stopped buying plastic silverware, paper plates, napkins, paper towel, and single serving packaged snacks.
The toughest thing for me to eliminate is the packaged snacks. It’s so easy and convenient to have snacks ready on the go. But here’s the thing! You can have the same convenience if you prep your snacks ahead of time. By buying things in big containers or in bulk and putting them in small mason jars or other food containers you can still have on the go snacks!
By switching from disposable single use items to reusable items you can save so many resources! This is one of the basic ways to start living a Low Waste Lifestyle. Think of all of the single use items that won’t end up in the landfill all thanks to you and the choices you make every day!
Second, Go Package Free Wherever Possible
Buying things without packaging isn’t always an option for every purchase. Something that is easy to buy package free is loose produce at the grocery store. Buying products from small businesses or craftspeople can also lead to less or no packaging as well!
If you can’t buy something without packaging, trying to buy things in cardboard or glass can make sure the packaging is able to be reused or recycled. This is a great place to start when working towards a low waste lifestyle.
Third, Buy in Bulk if Possible
I’m not only talking about bulk food stores here. Buying bulk can be a great option for many things! If it’s something you use often and won’t expire before you have the chance to use it consider buying in bulk!
Buying in bulk online can help to reduce the resources that are used to ship your items to you. Buying in bulk in person can reduce the amount of times you drive your car to the store. Bulk goods means less packaging per item. One thing I always buy in bulk is toilet paper.
I buy recycled toilet paper from Who Gives a Crap, a toilet paper company that prioritizes the environment and makes an impact with their profits! When I order my toilet paper, it comes in a big, plastic-free cardboard box. I love supporting them because Who Gives a Crap donates half of their profit to build toilets around the world in developing countries!
Click this link to check out Who Gives a Crap and to get $10 off your first order!
Fourth, Start Shopping Second-Hand
Second-hand shops and thrift stores are great places for shopping sustainably. You can always find things to reuse, upcycle, and make your own!
When you shop second-hand you are reducing the impact a single item has on the environment. Think of it this way: it takes a certain amount of energy, time, and resources to make a new shirt. If you buy that shirt and wear it once, all of those resources have been used so you can wear that shirt for a few hours and never wear it again.
By buying second hand you are able to use that item and extend the life of the item. This way more resources are not used to make a brand new item.
When there is a demand for second-hand items the demand for new items starts to decrease. This means new products will not be pushed out into the market because there is no demand for them.
I’m not saying there will be no demand for shirts but by using this logic there will be less shirts made for one-time use and therefore less resources will be used overall in clothing manufacturing. This concept is the basis of the movement to end fast fashion.
Fifth, Ask How Long Will I Use The Product?
Another tip on shopping sustainably is thinking about how long you will use a product for. This can help you determine if it is a good idea to buy it. If you are replacing an everyday essential that you know will be of great use to you, try to spend more time researching products. Find a good quality product that will last a long time!
If its a trendy shirt that you might only wear for one summer, consider a more classic style. That way you can wear it over and over again!
It may cost you more money upfront to invest in something higher quality but think of the resources you will save by not having to buy multiple of that same product. You may even end up spending the same amount of money as you would have on multiple of lesser items.
Sixth, Ask How is it Made?
Asking questions is the key. Some companies won’t answer your sustainability questions upfront. You will need to ask them specifically. One of the best ways to get quick accurate responses is to message the customer service for the company on their website. Most of the time they are happy to find you an answer.
When you start shopping sustainably, some questions to consider asking include: Is it made with sustainable manufacturing procedures? Does the company prioritize the environment? Is it made with natural or non-toxic ingredients? Is the product made with recycled materials? What does the company do with their profits? Do they give money to a cause I would like to support?
These are all answers you should be able to find on the company’s website. If you can’t find your answers, reach out with an email. If you’re hesitant, remember the worst thing they can do is not respond.
Seventh, Ask What do I do Once I’m Done with it?
This is a question people don’t always think about when it comes to shopping sustainably. When the product can’t be used anymore, can it be recycled? Can it be composted? Can it be used for something else? Thinking through each of these steps can help you figure out how sustainable your purchase will be.
I hope these guidelines help you to shop more sustainably with ease. Shopping sustainably is a hard thing to do. So remember to celebrate the little victories and the companies that allow you to shop sustainably!
To check out some of my sustainable favorites: check out my favorites page!
