Untitled Document
Shopping Tips
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Always Look for EarthMom™ Symbol: As
the EarthMom™ movement begins to gain momentum, always look for
EarthMom™ compliant businesses in your area to reward with your
patronage. If you don’t see our emblem, be sure and ask every store
(nicely) if they have an EarthMom™ decal yet and why it is not in their
window.
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Avoid Imported Fruits and Vegetables: Be
wary of buying imported fruits and vegetables where use of banned or
toxic pesticides may legally be used along with preservatives to help
keep the item fresh during the long transit to your local markets.
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Be an Eye Opener: Let
other non-compliant businesses know straight out why you’ll soon be
shopping elsewhere for your goods and perhaps even be willing to pay
more for them.
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Bulk Purchasing: Buy
bulk whenever possible. Buying from bulk bins reduces packaging along
with cost and reduces the need for extra trips to the store.
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Buy Local: Always
try to buy local – Food miles have risen to the top of eco-friendly
food considerations. Small businesses are often more willing to be
accountable for their actions, have smaller environmental footprints and
are potentially more willing to innovate to meet local demands and
conditions.
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Check for Conservation Logos: When
shopping for lumber, look for forest conservation logos such as FSC and
let them be a determining factor in your shopping decisions.
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Check for the Star: Be sure when replacing appliances to investigate Energy Star rated replacements.
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Examine Packaging: Where
practical, look for recycled product content in every product you
purchase. Examine your choices and avoid the overuse of excessive
packaging as in the case of a large box containing a very small item.
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Go for Reusable Materials: Keep used materials in mind when shopping for furniture.
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Got Coffee? $$$: Starbucks
is a leader in environmental responsibility on several levels. They
aspire to have 50% or more of their energy coming from certified
renewable sources. They incorporate green building standards into all
new construction incorporating recycled materials wherever possible. To
reduce paper waste, they offer ceramic cups for in store enjoyment,
lower cost refills when you bring your own tumbler and a free cup of
coffee for returning their coffee packages to their store.
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Green Packaging: Always look for products containing the least amount of packaging.
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Involving While shopping: If
there is no choice but to purchase a product with excessive packaging,
let the store know why you’re not happy with the product. Walmart is
already taking steps with their suppliers to reduce and eliminated
useless and undesirable packaging. Ask every store where you purchase
items if they will take packaging and insure it gets properly recycled.
Make sure they are recycling and not merely disposing of the packaging
into a dumpster that goes to a landfill.
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Large Sheets - $$$: In
case you're stuck with large sheets of paper towels, you'll find that
most rip easily once you determine the direction of the grain. Half
sheets many times will do the same job as full sheets so experiment a
bit and you'll find a new way to cut your paper towel costs almost in
half.
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Less is Less - $$$: As
you purchase various items, always visualize the amount of packaging
that will need to go to recycling or landfill. You should find that
companies with less packaging probably cost a few pennies less to boot.
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Making the Right choice: Horizontal
freezers provide the most efficient means of food storage, especially
when placed in a cool room or covered with added insulation.
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Paper Towels - $$$: Purchase
paper towels from suppliers that offer smaller sheets that allow you to
select the right size towel for any job. You'll find you stretch your
dollars and while reducing your overuse of paper towels.
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Patronizing Eco-friendly Vendors: Do business with vendors who will accept back extra packaging before you leave their store.
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Reusable Shopping Bags: Be
sure to take your totes and reusable shopping bags with you when you go
shopping. Many stores offer a savings when you bring your own bags. Be
sure to add your company logo or profession to your bags and drum up
extra business while you’re waiting in check out lines.
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Step Further by Asking for the EarthMom™ logo:
Inside every store, look for environmental feedback forms that provide
you a means of complimenting their efforts, providing comments and
making additional suggestions for change. In most cases, they will have
the EarthMom™ logo on it to help provide evidence of their efforts.
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Support Green Businesses: Always
try to buy products from like-minded Earth-Friendly local businesses
and business people. Be sure to remind them why you continue to
patronize their business.
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Taking Part of the Change: Ask
your store manager if they either offer or will consider offering an
environmentally orientated kiosk for offering advice on the most
eco-friendly products and accepting excessive packaging for recylcing.
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Thumbs-up for Green Companies Only: When
shopping, if a green product costs a few pennies more than an
environmentally inferior product, spend the extra pennies and let the
offender know why they lost your business.
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Bottled Water:
Never drink bottled water that have either been frozen in a plastic
container, or left sealed in a hot car. No matter how pure your water
starts off, it can quickly become contaminated with cancer causing
chemicals. Eliminate your need for bottled water by buying your water in
bulk or filtering it directly from your tap. You'll be cutting down on
landfill and saving yourself tons of money.
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Plastic or Glass?:
Metal cans can be convenient however most are lined with a plastic
spray to keep your food from tasting metallic. The bad news is the
chemicals used can leach into your food and cause problems of their own.
Unless you've researched and determined your favorite canned foods are
free of these chemicals, try to cook from scratch or opt to purchase
foods in glass containers.
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Online Shopping:
Plan your online shopping needs to reduce the amount of trips from your
UPS or FEDX driver. Chances are you'll a reduction in or free shipping
charges while cutting back on the amount of energy required to deliver
your goods.
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