| Being ecologically minded is something that most | | | | could have you saving almost 100 plastic bags a year. |
| proclaim to be. However, actually practicing an | | | | 5. Fair Trade & Logo's. |
| ecologically minded lifestyle is something quite | | | | When products are eco-friendly, environmentally |
| different. Making environmentally friendly is much | | | | friendly and ethical, they will often display a logo of |
| easier than you think. Here are ten ways in which | | | | certification. These Logo's are varied across the |
| you can easily and efficiently make choices in the | | | | world. Look at the bottom and back label of the |
| supermarket that boost the environment and your | | | | product to find if it meets environmental and |
| moral. | | | | humanistic standards. |
| 1. Packaging. | | | | 6. Free Range. |
| New sites for landfills are being appointed every day, | | | | When you're not buying organic, but free range |
| as the vast amount of waste is accumulating at a | | | | instead. It ensures a better quality food and of |
| rapid speed. Plastic, which takes at least 100 years to | | | | course is a far more ethical option than non-free |
| degrade fills majority of landfill space. This is not only | | | | range. Non free-range animals are often ill and |
| toxic to the environment; it also seeps into our water | | | | diseased. Hmm, not so great for chicken stir-fry huh? |
| resources and damages soil. When you purchase | | | | 7. Chemicals. |
| products, observe the packaging. Some products use | | | | Many foods are loaded with nasty chemicals and |
| recycled packaging, whereas other use plastic. By | | | | preservatives. Buy fresh were possible, and look out |
| choosing the packaging with the least plastic you are | | | | for brands that have less chemicals and |
| making a personal and profound stance as a | | | | preservatives. Often they cost more, but are |
| consumer. | | | | substantially healthier as well as tasting better. |
| 2. Organic. | | | | 8. Recycling. |
| Food is not what it used to be. However buying | | | | When you are shopping, keep in mind which |
| organic makes a huge difference. Through demand | | | | packaging is possible to recycle. Tins, cardboard, glass |
| increasing for organic goods, it is most likely that | | | | and paper packaging are all recycle friendly. There are |
| prices for organic products will reduce as a result of | | | | many different brands of the product you want, so |
| consumer need. Organic food is more nutrient rich | | | | why not buy the most environmentally friendly one? |
| than "normal" food and is without those nasty | | | | 9. Local. |
| pesticides and herbicides. | | | | By supporting local wholesalers and manufacturers |
| 3. Palm Oil. | | | | you are not only supporting your economy, you are |
| The deforestation that is occurring for palm oil, is not | | | | showing that you care about the environmental |
| only destroying our millions of acres of rainforests, it | | | | effects of importation. Now is the time to be |
| is killing thousands of orangutans too. Steer clear of | | | | patriotic. |
| any products containing palm oil. You will be surprised | | | | 10. Standards. |
| when you see the ridiculous amount that | | | | Old your standards high when shopping. Research and |
| unnecessarily use this limited resource. | | | | Boycott products that are harmful, inhumane and |
| 4. Shopping Bags. | | | | unethical. Your choice as a consumer does have an |
| Bring your own cloth shopping bag. Trendy and | | | | enormous impact. Remember your choice contributes |
| practically a necessity in France, personal shopping | | | | to hundreds, which in turn makes a statement for |
| bags, are becoming the international must-have for | | | | change. |
| supermarket shopping. This small but useful decision | | | | |