Shopping

Questions to ask before you buy:

·        Can I provide it myself?

·        Could I obtain it from a friend or neighbour?

·        Can it be obtained through a bartering scheme?

·        Is it feasible to repair rather than replace an item?

·        Could I hire instead of buying?

·        Can I buy it second hand?

·        Could I own it jointly with a friend?  This could be a good approach for cars and other larger items.  

·        Is it really a “bargain”? The most heavily promoted ‘discounted’ items may not be the best value.

Check out the Packaging

·        You can refuse a plastic bag (reuse plastic bags, bring own bag or ask for a cardboard box). 

·        Select items that can be bought loose rather than individually wrapped products or fresh food that’s sold on film-covered polystyrene trays.

·        Favour the items in recyclable packaging (e.g. glass jars, cans, moulded cardboard, but for plastic only codes 1 and 2) over those that are not recyclable.

·        Avoid too much take-away food as its packaging is often excessive, and once grease-soiled that packaging is not recyclable.

·        Buy refills of household detergents and other chemicals or make your own cleaners.

Avoid disposables

·        Kerbside milk in glass bottles has almost disappeared but it may be possible to obtain doorstep delivery of organic fruit and vegetables, without packaging, in a ‘box scheme’.

·        Use alternatives to once-only items, eg:

• China or thicker plastic cups and plates, which are reusable, rather than ‘disposable’ paper or light plastic.
• Use biodegradeable plates that can be composted.
• Washable cotton handkerchiefs, face-flannels, dinner napkins and cloth nappies are preferable to disposable paper, plastic and cotton ones.
• Favour unbleached cotton if available
• If you have a baby in your household use cloth nappies – see www.thenappynetwork.org.nz
• An electric razor/shaver is probably preferable to several years’ supply of disposable metal and plastic razors, in terms of materials efficiency.  Some razors have replaceable blades – minimal waste compared to one-piece designs.
• Use rechargeable batteries.
• Favour new compact light bulbs which need replacing lass often. 

The case for organic fruit and vegetables

Are you concerned about pesticide exposure and genetic engineering?  Many pesticides permitted in food production are potential carcinogens (cancer causing substances). So what can you do about it?

Grow your own fruit and vegetables, and avoid chemicals. 

Eat NZ fresh produce in season.  Food imports are treated with pesticides and/or fungicides to keep their ‘fresh’ appearance and to meet NZ’s bio-security regulations.  There is also a large energy cost in shipping fruit and veges between hemispheres. 

Read the fine print

Note what food labels tell you, particularly about preservatives, additives and colourings.  See the free booklet ‘Identifying Food Additives’ from NZ Food Safety Authority: 0800 693 721  www.nzfsa.govt.nz

Seek out reputable environmental claims.  Look for evidence of independent environmental certification, such as the recently introduced Enviromark, at Gold Standard or above. (For information, www.landcareresearch.co.nz )

For manufactured goods a NZ Government-backed scheme setting standards is Environmental Choice.  

Other label claims. There is no legal definition of many product label claims such as ‘hypo-allergenic’. ‘anti-bacterial’ or 'free range’. Be skeptical.

You may wish to avoid parabens (preservatives) common in cosmetics and sunscreens – paraben free cosmetics are now available or you can try making your own.

Made in New Zealand? Goods that have not been shipped across the oceans cost less in fossil fuels, but also have the advantage of supporting local manufacturing.

Check those imported goods!

There is scope for ‘ethical shopping’, particularly with imported goods.  NZ has an ethical trader, Trade Aid Importers, whose shops stock items made by partner businesses in 30 countries. A larger proportion of their retail price reaches the makers, Trade Aid claims, and they encourage use of environmentally-sustainable materials, safe production methods, respect for the needs and aspirations of the workers, advocacy against child labour and funding for health and education projects. They protect their partners’ traditional craft skills and help to develop new products, which can expand fair trade export markets.