Things You'll Need:
- Canvas or otherwise reusable bags
- Shopping list
-
Step 1
Do some research to find out the greenest grocery store in your area. A good place to start is the "Eat Well Guide." This resource will tell you where the nearest green grocery store is, according to your zip code. Green markets will offer organic food from local farms, so you can avoid purchasing meat and produce from ecologically unsustainable and cruel factory farms.
-
Step 2
Take time to plan meals and make a shopping list that includes enough food and other products to sustain your family for the longest possible time. This will cut frequent grocery shopping trips that unnecessarily expend fuel.
-
Step 3
Give preference to products that have minimal packaging and/or buy products in bulk packaging to reduce waste. Choose seasonable fresh fruits and vegetables over canned and frozen ones. Eating food that is in season reduces the eco-cost of transporting food items over great distances, which consumes excessive fuel.
-
Step 4
Check to see if your store has a section devoted to green cleaning supplies and purchase those products instead of harsh chemical cleaners, which are just as dangerous to you as they are the environment. Most stores now carry at least a few green cleaning products now that major well-known companies have created new natural cleaning lines. You can also save money on cleaning products by using white vinegar as a natural, all-purpose cleaner.
-
Step 5
Read the labels of products that claim to be natural as some advertising seeks to exploit consumers' desire to become environmentally responsible. For example, you may find soap products with labels that claim the product is all-natural and organic, but if the ingredients read sodium laureth sulfate, the product is harmful to the environment and can potentially produce carcinogenic dioxins. Similarly, many laundry detergents will state they are natural and septic system safe, however they are petroleum-based and are therefore not ecologically sound.
-
Step 6
Pack your items in the reusable canvas bags that you have brought with you to conclude your green grocery shopping trip.
