Shop Green
People in the United States are consumed with the need to have stuff. More stuff, new stuff, the latest stuff — and it all piles up to be discarded as fast as it was purchased. We have been labeled the disposable society.
No More Gratuitous Shopping
The key to green shopping is to only purchase what is really needed and to buy things that last. Don't purchase ten pairs of shoes when one black pair will coordinate nicely with the majority of your outfits. Don't buy a new iPod just because a newer model came out when the one you have works perfectly fine. By all means, do not buy something just because it has been labeled green.
According to Seventh Generation, if every household in the United States replaced just one box of facial tissues with 100 percent recycled ones, 87,700 trees and 31 million gallons of water would be saved. Seventh Generation (www.seventhgeneration.com) offers a variety of environmentally friendly cleaning and household products.
There is no reason to rip up your perfectly good hardwood flooring and replace it with all new bamboo or cork or get rid of your comfy couch just to buy an expensive and trendy hemp sofa. You don't have to throw all your old clothes out and buy new organic cotton, hemp, or bamboo versions, either. Throwing perfectly good stuff away is not very green. It's a big waste of resources, not to mention money, which also seems to be a dwindling resource for many people.
Don't let commercial consumerism and all the green hype push you into buying things you don't need. If you do need new stuff, then that's okay, and definitely go for the green choices when you do need to purchase new things. All-natural organic cotton blankets, bamboo sheets, and hemp shower curtains are all better choices than the regular synthetic, chemicalladen ones that wouldn't last as long anyway.
Always remember to try to buy items that are recycled, recyclable, organic, fair trade, and made from sustainable material. Take your reusable bags shopping with you and support local businesses that are doing good, green things.
Buying Used
The old saying about one person's trash being another person's treasure is absolutely true. If you've never been one to hit yard sales or resale shops, now might be the time to try it. Look at things from multiple angles. Envision an object as something else with totally different potential uses. For instance, don't look at an old metal bucket as just a bucket; look at it as a tote for your gardening tools or as a chic ice bucket to chill a bottle of wine in.
That old wooden box or crate would make a great storage cubby for your books or old records. That boring old laundry tub or chipped bathtub in the corner of the thrift shop could be turned into an amazing flower bed for your garden. That pile of mismatched silverware could be turned into jewelry, wind chimes, plant stakes, garden tools, or a unique sculpture.
The one thing you shouldn't buy used is an old appliance. New models are often worth the investment because they are made to be energy efficient. Old ones will suck up energy and might break down with no warranty to insure them. Look for Energy Star appliances to know you are getting true energy savings.
Wood furniture (real wood, not pressed junk) is always a great find. It should never end up in the dump, but, sadly, it often does. If it is structurally sound, it is quite easy to give wood a facelift by simply refinishing it and adding some updated hardware. The good news is that there are now environmentally friendly solvents, paint strippers, stains, paints, and finishes that make refinishing and reusing old wood furniture doubly green. If you find a piece that is not in good condition, that's still no reason to consign it to the junkyard. If you or someone you know is pretty good with wood, most repairs can be quite easy and sometimes as simple as replacing a screw, nail, or hinge or re-gluing something.
One of the big benefits of buying used is that it is a way to make sure you have something the majority of the population does not. If you go into an antique store and buy an old table, you will wind up with a unique piece of furniture. On the other hand, if you choose to buy your table from a regular furniture store, many people in your area might have the same mass produced object.
Take a day and hit the resale trail. Go antiquing and shop at all the resale, thrift, and consignment shops in your area. Stop by any yard or garage sales you come across along the way. Think of it as a treasure hunt. Go as a couple, with your best friend, or even your mom. Have fun, pack a picnic, and enjoy yourself. You might get lucky, hit the jackpot, and find a true treasure. At the very least, you'll get out of the house and spend some quality time with someone you care about.
