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You are here: > Sustainable action > Ecotips > Shopping

Shopping

In the shop....

Shop by phone first, then pick up your purchases.
Bring durable tote bags to the grocery for your purchases or reuse grocery bags.
Save plastic bags to reuse for produce and bulk items.
Recycle plastic bags.
Don't buy aerosols containing chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).
Purchase goods in reusable or recyclable containers.
Purchase goods made from recycled materials.
Buy at Ethical Shopping Support companies, which recycle goods, carry the environmental logo, and care about the environment, by choosing their products.
Take your own bags shopping.
Choose goods without excess packaging.
Buy products designed for a long life.
Buy goods made from recycled materials (e.g. stationery, greeting cards, furniture).

Reduce is the first choice and means... having fewer new things - this saves you money and reduces pollution and waste going in to the environment. Reducing also means choosing things with the least amount of packaging.
Say 'no bag needed thank you' when you are shopping - take your own bag or back-pack to use instead
Be careful with your things and if they get broken try fixing them before buying new stuff
Before buying new things, think whether you really need them - or maybe a second-hand one will be just as good!
Get refill packs of cleaners and detergents (refill packs save about 60% of the plastic needed for a new squeezy bottle - and saves money too)
Take a home-made lunch to school - rather than buying lots of things that have heaps of packaging.
Put a "No junk mail" sign on your letterbox.
Phone up companies and ask to be removed from their mailing lists rather than just throwing away their advertising.

Reuse means... thinking before you throw things away - Can it be used again? Would someone else be able to use it? If you can't reuse it, maybe someone else can. Swap, sell or donate items such as toys, clothing, furniture, sports gear, tapes and records.
Clean out jam jars and use them to put pens and things in. You might like to decorate some jars and put flowers in them - this will make a great present for someone.
Give away clothes you don't like or have grown out of, and buy clothes from the second hand store - you will find some great bargains!
Collect used writing paper and photocopier paper with only one side used. Use the other side for scribble pads, drawings, notes... or even for writing more letters.
Use old shopping bags again. This way you won't need new ones - and you will be saving resources.
Reuse wrapping paper from birthday and Christmas presents.
Reuse envelopes (but cross out the electronic pink post code in the lower right corner).
Donate old clothes to "Op" shops or clothing bins.
Find old appliances and household items a good home through the free column in Trade & Exchange or the Recycling Centre at the Southern Landfill (tip).
Reuse paper bags.
Reuse cardboard boxes and plastic bags for storage...and a million other things.

Recycling is the last resort - reduce and reuse is the better option. Recycling needs a lot of energy as well (e.g. melting tin, glass) and is an end of pipe approach.
Recycling means... sorting your waste so it can be turned into new things.
Start a compost bin - Food scraps go in the compost bin and worms LOVE food scraps. The worms eat up the food scraps and make new, healthy soil, which is good for putting in the garden. If you would like more information about composting you can contact your City, District or Regional Council or to Forest and Bird.
Recycle glass.
Recycle plastic bottles.
Recycle plastic bags.
Recycle aluminium cans.
Recycle metals.
Recycle motor oil.
Dispose of hazardous waste responsibly.
Wellington produces 200,000 tonnes of rubbish a year, or 1.43 tonnes for every man, woman, and child.