If you’re looking for ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle, then making a few changes to the way you shop is a great place to start.
From avoiding using single use plastic bags to planning out your shopping trips, here are 5 ways you can shop in a more eco-friendly way:
1. Take your own bags
One of the best things you can do to reduce the amount of plastic waste associated with shopping is to take your own reusable bags with you.
You can buy hardwearing jute bags to take with you on your big weekly shop that will last for ages. If you’re just popping out for a few bits then take a backpack with you, or a small tote bag that folds up to fit in your handbag.
And if you buy loose fruit and veg at the supermarket then grab some reusable mesh bags to use instead of single use plastic bags.
2. Look for sustainable packaging
Take a minute to check the packaging on the products you buy to see if it’s recycled/recyclable.
More and more companies are making the move towards being more sustainable, by using companies like Tyler Packaging who produce packaging that’s fully recyclable.
Make a point of picking products from those companies that are working on supporting customers who are trying to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle.
3. Buy second hand
Any time you want or need something new, think about whether or not you could buy it second hand instead.
You can find clothes, toys and books at charity shops, as well as household appliances, pots, pans, mugs, and dishes.
Giving new life to pre-loved items is so much more eco-friendly than buying new all the time, and it can save you a lot of money too.
4. Pick reusable over single use
Whenever you can, try to buy products that you can use over and over again. This way you’ll reduce the amount of single use items that end up in landfill.
Think along the lines of:
- Using cloth nappies and washable wipes for your baby, instead of disposable
- Taking a reuseable water bottle and coffee cup out with you when you go out for the day
- Buying beeswax wraps for your food instead of using clingfilm
- Using refillable cleaning products instead of buying a new plastic bottle each time
- Switching from bottles of shampoo to bars
Related – 7 eco-friendly items that are perfect for busy families
5. Do all your shopping at once
Another thing you can do to make your shopping habits more eco-friendly is to reduce the amount of driving you do to pick up the things you need.
Make a plan so that you do all your shopping in one trip, instead of driving into town or to the supermarket several times.
The same goes for shopping online, try and group your deliveries as much as you can instead of having things sent to you one by one.
If we can all start to make these small changes to the way we shop, and the way we live our lives in general, it can have a huge impact on the world around us.
Which of these things do you already do? And what other changes can we make to the way we shop to be more eco-friendly?
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post