Go green!

Think green!

Shop green!

Sustainability is the new buzzword recently. Everybody is talking about it. We are all encouraged to switch to a sustainable lifestyle. 

But let’s take a step back and ask – What exactly is a sustainable lifestyle and how do we shop green?

Sustainable or green shopping is consuming goods and services keeping in mind it does not harm any other species and systems on earth. Simply put, it means shopping for products that are made sustainably.

So how to become a more aware shopper? Well, here’s how.

  1. Don’t just buy, think first.

We have habituated ourselves into irrational buying. You need to take a pause and think:

  • Do you really need that product?
  • Is there an alternative to the product? One which is less harmful to the environment? 
  • Can you reuse, repurpose, or repair an existing product?

Thinking in this direction not only helps to reduce the number of unwanted products that will ultimately go to waste but also gives you an option to look for sustainable alternatives.

  1. Upcycle

What do you do with your dresses you don’t want anymore? 

Probably throw them out? 

Well, sustainable shopping goes beyond buying eco-friendly products and involves managing them after their use. That’s where upcycling comes in, which means utilizing discarded materials for other purposes. 

DIY has opened various opportunities to make something new out of old. For instance, you can turn your old t-shirts into tote bags, transform jeans into shorts, etc. The options are endless. The more you upcycle, the better you get at it, generating less waste.

  1. Follow the product’s journey

The concept of sustainability is weaved right from the start in any product. So if you’re looking to switch to sustainable shopping, you need to look back into the product’s journey. 

  • What are the materials used?
  • What’s the process of manufacturing?
  • Are there any unethical practices involved?
  • Does it have natural materials?
  • How will it end up once you discard it? etc.

When you find answers to these questions, you know you’re in the right direction of adopting sustainability.

  1. Support brands

Today a lot of brands are coming forward to better themselves and leave a positive impact on the environment and community. As a sustainable shopper, you can always support such brands in their endeavours. 

  • How is a brand contributing to the environment?
  • How do they share their resources and knowledge?
  • Do they positively contribute to the community?
  • Do their strategies benefit the greater good?
  • Are they integrating into the sustainable economy?

Giving thought to these questions can help you make informed decisions as to what kind of brands you want to shop from.

  1. Reduce wastage

While heading for shopping, you can take several measures to ensure you’re not generating waste just for that one trip. Here’s what you can do:

  • Carry your own reusable shopping bags
  • Take better alternatives with you like reusable water bottles, cloth napkins instead of paper ones, solar-powered electronics, etc.
  • Buy in bulk whenever possible to reduce packaging waste and cut down on fuel consumption
  • Reuse the packaging containers for storage purposes

Taking a few small steps towards sustainable shopping can have a major impact on the environment. It all contributes to reducing the carbon footprint due to shopping. And also, the sense of pride in giving back to mother nature is incomparable. Isn’t that something worth trying for?

Let’s do our part in making Earth a better place.

Let’s switch to sustainable shopping.