Consumerism

We are a nation of shoppers and it's easy to forget that the products we buy can have enormous environmental impacts.

Use your purchasing power and make a few small changes to your shopping habits to reduce your own impact. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune; a bag-for-life is not only going to be much stronger than a normal plastic bag, but you can use it every time you shop – keep one on you as you never know when it will come in handy. In season, locally grown produce can be cheaper than the imported equivalents and supports your local economy, as well as helping to cut down on pollution.

An easy way to ensure you buy seasonal and local food is to sign up for a vegetable box scheme. There are over 200 organic box schemes in the UK that can give you a regular delivery of locally grown vegetables of your choice.

How can I make a difference in the way I shop?

A simple checklist to keep in mind when out shopping is:

  • Shop locally; this supports your local community and cuts down on unnecessary car use
  • Always keep a bag-for-life on you so you don’t need new plastic bags each time you shop
  • If possible, look for an alternative product with less packaging
  • Buy products in packaging that can be recycled, e.g. glass
  • Cut down on packaging; buy products with little or no packaging (such as loose fruit), in recycled packaging or in larger packs rather than lots of smaller packs

Below is a list of some of the things to look out for when shopping to ensure that you are buying a more ethical product and shopping more sustainably.

Banking - most of us choose our bank for convenience or stay with the same bank for years purely through habit. High street banks are likely to invest in a whole range of companies, some of these may support negative environmental and social practices. Choose an ethical bank or building society; you could do this for your insurance policy and mortgages too.

Clothing - you can buy ethical and environmentally friendly clothes made from sustainable materials.

Fairtrade - when you're next buying coffee, tea, chocolate and other imported goods, check whether there's a fairtrade product on the shelf by looking for this logo. Fairtrade ensures that small farmers in developing countries receive a fair share of the money you pay for their product.

Fish - the Marine Stewardship Council sets an internationally recognised standard to measure and reward sustainably managed fisheries.

Farmers' markets - buying direct from the farmer who has grown the produce gives you the advantage of knowing exactly where the food has come from. There are over 300 farmers' markets around the country – click here for a full list.

Meat - when you're buying meat, consider the organic and/or free range option, which comes from animals that are reared under more natural conditions. It can be more expensive, so try to have a few more vegetarian meals and look at your organic steak as a treat!

Organic - the Soil Association mark guarantees that the product is organic. Organic farming does not use chemical fertilisers and pesticides; it benefits the soil, the food and the environment.

Paints - many types of paints and solvents contain 'volatile organic compounds' (VOCs). These cause air pollution and are hazardous to your health, so buy low or VOC free paints. There are companies that offer a range of organic and natural paints and varnishes, one such company is Ecos Organic Paints.

Wood - check for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) mark indicating that the product has been made from sustainable timber from a well-managed forest.

You won't always be able to tick all these points, but just having them in your head when you're trying to choose which product to buy will make a difference.