What You Can Do!
Change begins with each of one us and collectively we can make a difference!
First thing you can do is conserve.
Bring your own:
Durable, reusable bags and containers for shopping at all stores.
Reusable, lightweight cloth bags for produce.
Bring your own mug for take-out coffee, tea etc. and refillable bottles for water.
Avoid buying bottled water; the caps are not recyclable and their size and shape increase the likelihood they will end up in the ocean.
Buy in bulk:
Buy foods like grains, seeds, nuts, beans, flour, pasta, cereal, crackers, cookies, tea, coffee, olives, etc., in bulk, and bring them home in your own containers or durable reusable bags.
Buy personal care products like shampoo and body lotion in bulk by refilling your own containers (some stores with large bulk sections carry personal care products in bulk).
Avoid buying individually wrapped or single-serving foods like cheese slices, pudding, juice in boxes, etc.
Buy products with minimal or truly recyclable packaging such as:
Beverages and foods in glass containers with metal lids (and reuse the glass containers)
berries in paper pulp baskets
meat from the butcher counter and cheese from the deli counter--and ask that they be wrapped in butcher paper or waxed paper
cream cheese packaged in foil rather than plastic tubs
margarine in paper-wrapped cubes rather than plastic tubs
powdered laundry detergent in paper boxes rather than liquid in plastic bottles
toilet paper packaged in paper
bar soap instead of liquid soap in plastic bottles
wine in glass bottles with natural cork rather than plastic stoppers
pet food and cat litter in paper bags or boxes
nursery plants in pressed paper rather than plastic pots
Last but not least... Tell your friends!
First thing you can do is conserve.
Bring your own:
Durable, reusable bags and containers for shopping at all stores.
Reusable, lightweight cloth bags for produce.
Bring your own mug for take-out coffee, tea etc. and refillable bottles for water.
Avoid buying bottled water; the caps are not recyclable and their size and shape increase the likelihood they will end up in the ocean.
Buy in bulk:
Buy foods like grains, seeds, nuts, beans, flour, pasta, cereal, crackers, cookies, tea, coffee, olives, etc., in bulk, and bring them home in your own containers or durable reusable bags.
Buy personal care products like shampoo and body lotion in bulk by refilling your own containers (some stores with large bulk sections carry personal care products in bulk).
Avoid buying individually wrapped or single-serving foods like cheese slices, pudding, juice in boxes, etc.
Buy products with minimal or truly recyclable packaging such as:
Beverages and foods in glass containers with metal lids (and reuse the glass containers)
berries in paper pulp baskets
meat from the butcher counter and cheese from the deli counter--and ask that they be wrapped in butcher paper or waxed paper
cream cheese packaged in foil rather than plastic tubs
margarine in paper-wrapped cubes rather than plastic tubs
powdered laundry detergent in paper boxes rather than liquid in plastic bottles
toilet paper packaged in paper
bar soap instead of liquid soap in plastic bottles
wine in glass bottles with natural cork rather than plastic stoppers
pet food and cat litter in paper bags or boxes
nursery plants in pressed paper rather than plastic pots
Last but not least... Tell your friends!