Environmental Education

Image of a re-usable shopping bag. Smart shopping

In a society where we seek convenience and speed and we associate prosperity with what and how much we own (houses, cars, boats, fashion clothing, appliances, mobile phones and more) shopping has become one of the most popular activities outside the home.

Coupled with the fact that the majority of things we buy are not designed for repair or renewal, but are generally manufactured for disposal and replacement, our consumer culture impacts significantly on our social, economic and environmental wellbeing.

By becoming smart shoppers and changing our daily buying habits we can make a difference that will be reflected in our health, provide equity in other countries, reduce the amount of natural resources we consume and the amount of waste we produce.

Things to consider when shopping
Quick reference booklets on tips for smart shopping
Useful links

Things to consider when shopping

Whenever we buy goods we make choices based on cost, appeal, quality, brand. Consider these things when you next go shopping:

How healthy is that food? Read labels to identify the preservatives, additives and colouring that have been added to the food, buy GMO free and organic produce when possible.
Can you grow or make that item instead?
Can you get what you need by exchanging what you have with someone else?
Is it feasible to repair rather than replace a broken utensil or appliance?
Can you hire instead of buying?
Can you buy second hand?
Can the items be bought loose (in bulk) rather than individually wrapped?
Can the item or its packaging be reused or refilled instead of disposed of?

Other things you can do

Refuse plastic supermarket bags – either take your own or take a cloth shopping bag
Buy items in recyclable packaging (e.g. glass bottles and jars, aluminium and steel cans, paper, cardboard and plastic bottles 1 & 2)
Avoid take-away food with excessive, non-recyclable packaging.
Look out for environmental certification and branding, but be aware of impostors.
Buy New Zealand made goods in the knowledge that workers have not been exploited to produce them.