The Power of the Dollar: Ways you can spend your money to encourage others to be green
Do you picture landfills when you throw things away? How about when you buy something? One way to positively impact the environment is to reduce the amount of unnecessary packaging that we accept in our purchases. If you’re like me, the one place you go every single week, at least once a week, is the grocery store. This is where we essentially vote for the products we want, and where we can make a huge difference in keeping our communities green.
Quench Your Thirst, Squelch Waste
Growing up, my mom always bought cans of frozen concentrated juice. I don’t know why or remember when I began buying cartons with “Made from concentrate” on the label, but it dawned on me recently that I’m paying a lot more to have water added for me, not to mention the added fuel costs to transport to my local store. So I’ve switched back to buying the frozen stuff - in bulk. I am not only saving money but generating less waste. Packaging from the frozen concentrate can be recycled into materials for kids’ crafts. A quick search on the Internet netted dozens of ideas like making seasonal decorations and cute photo magnets. What’s not to like? Less packaging, less fuel costs to transport, more yummy juice for your family, plus kitschy crafts - it’s all good.
And while we’re on the subject….
Does juice taste better in tiny boxes?
I never have understood the appeal of juice boxes (nor wine in a box, for that matter), and it certainly doesn’t make sense economically or for the environment. Reusable containers for to-go drinks, snacks, and school lunches are inexpensive and will pay for themselves in no time. My sister-in-law said she saw the light at the end of the school year and realized how much better it would be to put my nephew’s lunch in a container rather than a baggie. They also protect food from getting crushed in transit.
I’ll Drink to That
If you have a coffee or tea habit, buy one of those chic, shiny thermoses to savor your favorite beverage. Your drink will stay hotter (or colder) longer and you’ll keep hundreds of cups, lids and those little paper sleeves that keep you from burning your hand out of the landfills. Starbuck’s offers a small discount when you bring in your own cup, which is a nice incentive.
Pick Your Own Potatoes
Almost every item in the grocery store is encased in packaging. Even produce like lettuce, tomatoes, and potatoes are shrouded in plastic. Leafy greens are convenient when triple washed, but doesn’t the price triple as well? Pick up a head of green leaf lettuce for $1.59 and let your kids help you wash it. Believe me; it will be rinsed at least three times if you have a toddler assisting. And can’t we all pick out four baking potatoes on our own? Why do we need to pay to have them shrink wrapped on a Styrofoam plate? Ludicrous!
Buy recycled products
Create a demand for recycled products to close the circle. This year on Earth Day, April 22, I decided to make buying recycled toilet paper and paper towels a new habit. My husband never noticed the difference. When I brought him two samples and asked him which was recycled, he guessed wrong. The perforated heart design threw him off. Who knew recycled toilet paper could be cute!
We are all concerned about the environment and want to make a difference. And we have more influence than we realize. Anna Lappé, an advocate for sustainability said it best, “Every time you spend money, you’re casting a vote for the kind of world you want.”
