Every day, we purchase goods and services to fulfil our needs. Our purchasing decisions can have a huge impact on the environment, greenhouse emissions from production and transportation and waste. The following tips can help you make environmentally friendly purchasing decisions.

Sharing Economy

A sharing economy allows people to borrow or rent items instead of buying them. The oldest and most popular example of a sharing economy is the library, where one book is read by hundreds of people over the course of its life. A newer example of the sharing economy is car sharing, where a fleet of cars are shared by people who pay just for the time they use them. Another example is tool lending libraries, where you can borrow a drill to use for a day or two instead of having to buy one.

Decide What You Really Need

Before purchasing a product, ask yourself the following questions: Are there alternatives to purchasing the product? Can something you already own be used instead? For example, you may be able to use a cleaning chemical for more than one purpose or make a product from ingredients you have around the house.

Here are some other tips from the Change Habits For Climate Guide:

  • Look for an Eco Label
  • Choose less paper and packaging
  • Buy local
  • Buy used or second-hand
  • Make your own

For more details on these and other tips, check out the Sustainable Purchasing section of the Change Habits For Climate Guide.