The consumer decisions that we each make individually can have a much broader impact on our world collectively. Of course eating organic fruits and vegetables is very important for the betterment of the environment and for personal health, as is using natural, biodegradable cleaning and personal care products.
But lets take greening our consumption a step further. There are many products that we all purchase that are not necessarily a necessity. Im talking primarily about items that would fall under the heading of discretionary spending. And in the current economic climate, a lot of us are already being more deliberate about where and when to spend our money. Why not consider the environmental impact of our purchases while we are at it?
I try to maintain a stalwart awareness of my own environmental footprint but I cannot claim to be free of sin. I already have embarrassingly more clothing than two or even three people could ever possibly need, yet sometimes I just cant curb the compulsion for a new t-shirt or pair of jeans. Im reminded of an old joke about a beauty pageant contestant. And the crown would have been hers if only she had answered world peace instead of fashion first! So whats a certifiable eco-freak like me to do?
Ive made a personal commitment to make smarter purchasing decisions in my life. The first question I ask myself is Do I really need this? If I can say no then I ask myself a follow-up question: Do I REALLY WANT this? If I answer with another no, then I forgo the momentary high that a session of retail therapy offers. However, if I answer with a resounding YES! then I try to determine which brand or product will have the least impact environmentally and will fulfill my needs and wants.
An example of this practice in action is a recent addition to my closet. I wanted (really wanted) a new pair of casual, everyday sneakers. But more importantly, I wanted to walk the walk so I set out to find an environmentally friendly, comfortable, attractive pair of kicks. And I believe I was successful on all fronts.
They are manufactured by Simple Shoes and contain no animal byproducts or even regular animal products. These shoes are vegan friendly and veggie friendly, and made from some interesting and unexpected resources. Hemp and organic cotton make up much of the shoe, but the pedbeds and laces are actually made from recycled water bottles and the outsole from a recycled car tire. You can even see the tire tread on the bottom of the shoes. Far less newly produced resources had to be used in the production of the shoes. And by reusing already available, discarded materials keeps old tires and plastic bottles out of our landfills and give them a new, useful life.
Not only did I fulfill all of the criteria that I had established for myself, whenever I wear these shoes, I feel very proud of the purposeful process that I went through in buying them. And I love and appreciate them each time I put them on.
There are many products available today that would easily pass the same test. Sure, it takes a bit more effort to search them out, but the reward is sweet and well worth the effort. And some of these new, greener goods are very cool to boot.
So try it out for yourself. First decide if your next purchase is really, truly necessary. After all, the greenest consumption is no consumption. But if you decide it is time for a new pair of jeans, shoes, a bag or a purse whatever it is that you really, really need or want, try to find one produced by a company that shares your commitment to Mother Earth. Just think how many water bottles and used tires would be spared from the trash of we all bought our own ecoSNEAKS.
So, what exactly is a green gift? It is a gift that is created, transported, wrapped and given with minimal environmental impact. You can even green it up a little more by purchasing from environmentally conscious companies and organizations. Tickets to a concert, ballet, opera, football game, museum, or many other options make a fantastic green gift. And it can take as little as an envelope to wrap. Homemade gifts are another great option and very personal. My grandma, Rosella, sends me cookies from Washington State from time to time and there is no gift that I enjoy more. With every bite I think of how they were made with love and affection for me. Gift certificates can actually be very thoughtful gifts too if they are chosen well. For instance, a gift certificate for yoga classes for a friend that has wanted to try it out would be a great gift and motivation at the same time.
-Change your vehicles air filter. Changing a dirty air filter can increase your fuel efficiency by up to ten percent.