Shopping with "Green" in Mind

This week as you head to the store or about town running errands, MXenergy wants to encourage you to shop with "Green" in mind.  No, we aren't talking about stocking up on green leafy vegetables (although that can certainly be a part of it).  Instead, we are talking about thinking about the environment and sustainability as you shop.

In an earlier blog post, I discussed your carbon footprint (essentially the sum total of your impact on the environment) and how virtually every decision you make helps determine its size.  That holds true whether talking about whether you turn off the water when you brush your teeth,  how you plan your vacation, and even how you shop.

There are some very basic things you can do right away to start improving your "green" shopping habits.

First - and I am sure this comes as no surprise - ditch the plastic.  Whether we are talking about plastic shopping bags, plastic water bottles, multiple small plastic containers or excessive packaging - it all applies.  According to the New York Times, Americans consume 30 billion single serving containers of bottled water each year.   That is 30 BILLION plastic bottles that will NEVER biodegrade.  Plastic bags are even worse.  Recent estimates put plastic bag totals at 500 billion to 1 trillion annually. 

Second, when you can, buy in bulk.  You will save time, money, energy and packaging.  What could be smarter than that?

Go Vintage - Rather than rushing out to buy the season's latest fashion fad, consider checking out a vintage boutique.  Vintage clothing is gaining increasing popularity across the country. You can be stylish and environmentally conscious all at the same time.

Finally, buy fresh, organic, in season and close to home.  Fresh fruits and vegetables are better for you, free from toxic pesticides and without the high environmental cost of manufacturing.  Most importantly, you know you are supporting local vendors and helping your own community.

The perfect place to start on your quest for fresh, organic, local food is the Westport Farmers Market which will be kicking off its 2011 summer season on Thursday, May 26th.  This year the market will feature 3o vendors and each week will have a local chef on site to help you learn the best way to prepare the in-season produce available at the market.

The market offers more than just fresh produce.  You can also find fresh cheese, baked goods, organic meats, wood-fired pizzas, and gluten-free and raw food options.  The market will be open every Thursday from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. through November 3rd, so you should be able to stock your fridge with fresh, healthy food all season long.

It may seem like these changes seem to simple to make a big impact.  But consider this, if every American would recycle just one out of every ten #2 plastic bottles, we could keep 200 million pounds of plastic out of our nation's landfills each year.  To me that seems like a change worth embracing.

Happy Shopping! Hope To See You At The Market!