To Do: Save the World

goal: leave a smaller carbon footprint on the earth.

here are some of my ideas/goals:

- stop buying products with so much packaging. instead of buying the carrots in the cute packaging, buy the carrots that are raw with the greens and the dirt still on them. this idea can go for everything... buy meat from the deli not the stuff that is all pre-packaged. i also found that this is cheaper, i.e. pre-packaged baby carrots were like $2 and the raw carrots here like $1 or something. (great diet tip as well... shop on the outer edges of a supermarket and try and avoid the aisles as much as possible. this way you can buy your fruits, veggies, meat, dairy and bread while avoiding the mint oreos!)

- recycle old containers. instead of throwing out that old cottage cheese container, I washed it out like my parents used to do and I put other food in there.

- QUIT BUYING WATER BOTTLES! I quit doing this a long time ago but it still drives me nuts when other people do it. go buy yourself a cute reusable bottle and fill it up with faucet filtered water. you can keep it with you all the time and you can throw in some flavor packs to spice it up sometimes. check this out...

for more ideas read these real simple articles... check this out.

8 Ways to Cut Waste When Grocery Shopping

1. Skip single-serving items, which require more packaging per unit. Overpackaged offenders include frozen foods and lunch and snack items.

2. Purchase juice concentrates. You supply the water and pitcher and skip the large plastic container.

3. Avoid disposable goods, including razors, lighters, and plastic plates.

4. Use your own canvas or string bags at the grocery store. If you do use plastic, return it to the store for recycling; most stores have collection spots. Paper bags can hold other papers for recycling.

5. Use produce bags only for moist or small, loose items, such as lettuce and berries.

6. When possible, purchase goods in cans or glass instead of plastic containers. Glass can be recycled indefinitely.

7. Look for multipurpose cleaners instead of buying one for each kind of surface.

8. Close the loop. Purchase products that have themselves been made from recycled materials. For example, Seventh Generation makes paper products from 100 percent recycled materials.

Written by Jennifer Pigott Moeller - April 2002