While less shopping is always the more
ecologically aware choice, here are some ideas for making Black Friday
greener from the Center for Climate and Energy
Solutions (C2ES).
ecologically aware choice, here are some ideas for making Black Friday
greener from the Center for Climate and Energy
Solutions (C2ES).
Practice precycling. Precycling is the
practice of avoiding the purchase of items that will produce waste such as
packaging, whether that waste is recycled or not. After all, the most
environmentally friendly product is the one that minimizes resources altogether.
Find some tips on precycling.
practice of avoiding the purchase of items that will produce waste such as
packaging, whether that waste is recycled or not. After all, the most
environmentally friendly product is the one that minimizes resources altogether.
Find some tips on precycling.
Lighten the load and plan your shopping. Hauling
unnecessary weight makes your car less efficient, so remove it if you want to
save at the pump. According to the U.S. Department of Energy an extra 100 lbs
in the trunk reduces your fuel economy by up to 2 percent. By planning
your holiday shopping trips and combining them with a friend you’ll both save
time, money and gas. More transportation tips.
Be e-smart. The jury’s out on how you can ensure
that online shopping is eco-friendly, but a good rule of thumb is to
consolidate your shipments. The new trend of e-books and digital print formats
is a great low-carbon gift idea. Websites like Inkmesh let you search
titles and compare prices of e-books.
Bring reusable shopping bags. Whether you are
shopping for holiday gifts or groceries, try to remember to bring reusable
bags. Some retailers, including Giant, Kroger, Target and CVS, will give you a
discount for using your own bags, and in some cities, retailers charge
extra for plastic bags. This is an important step to reducing the 1 billion
shopping bags responsible for 300,000 tons of landfill waste in theU.S.
year. Find other facts at Clean Air Council.
shopping for holiday gifts or groceries, try to remember to bring reusable
bags. Some retailers, including Giant, Kroger, Target and CVS, will give you a
discount for using your own bags, and in some cities, retailers charge
extra for plastic bags. This is an important step to reducing the 1 billion
shopping bags responsible for 300,000 tons of landfill waste in the
year. Find other facts at Clean Air Council.
Buy recycled products. As you shop for holiday
cards or gifts, check the label to see if recycled materials were used. Buying
products made with recycled materials sends a signal to companies that
consumers care. Find out how you can shop smarter.
cards or gifts, check the label to see if recycled materials were used. Buying
products made with recycled materials sends a signal to companies that
consumers care. Find out how you can shop smarter.
Buy eco-friendly holiday lights. LED holiday
lights use up to 90% less energy than their traditional counterparts. Look for
them at your local retailer and visit the Department of Energy for more
information.
lights use up to 90% less energy than their traditional counterparts. Look for
them at your local retailer and visit the Department of Energy for more
information.
Reduce and recycle wrapping paper. Did you
know that household waste in theU.S.
Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day? This year, skip the holiday wrapping aisle and
use paper that might have been destined for the recycling bin such as comic
pages, old maps, or paper bags.
know that household waste in the
Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day? This year, skip the holiday wrapping aisle and
use paper that might have been destined for the recycling bin such as comic
pages, old maps, or paper bags.
Give a green gift. This year, consider giving a
gift that keeps on giving by making a donation in your loved one’s name to
a community charity or nonprofit
group. If you’d still like to wrap something, consider these ideas for an eco-gift from recycled, reused and natural
materials.
gift that keeps on giving by making a donation in your loved one’s name to
a community charity or nonprofit
group. If you’d still like to wrap something, consider these ideas for an eco-gift from recycled, reused and natural
materials.
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