What, where, how and when you buy all have significant impact on climate change and biodiversity – but you can use your shopping power for the planet’s good!
Shop less!
If we buy fewer products we use less virgin material (e.g.less oil for plastic, fewer trees chopped down, less digging for metals) and less energy is used in production and transport.
The more we reuse, repair and recycle, the less stuff is being thrown away, which lowers carbon emissions. There is a host of environmental benefits, including benefits to biodiversity as we’re not destroying species’ homes. Next time you have the urge to ‘splash the cash’ ask yourself ‘Have I already got enough of this item?’ ‘Do I really need this?’
You may be interested in the ‘Buy Nothing Project’ with ‘communities’ all over the world which encourage giving (or recycling) of consumer goods and services (called “gifts of self”) in preference to conventional buying and selling.
There’s always some shopping that’s essential for survival (food, clothing to keep warm, toiletries to keep you clean etc.) – and to add comfort and enjoyment to your life and to the life of others (books, gifts, entertainment, hobbies). Just do this shopping in a way that benefits you and the environment.
Shop sustainable
Aim to buy durable items that last longer and where possible, out of materials that can be recycled or will naturally biodegrade. Aim to buy items which have been made to encourage long use, repair and re-use, swaps and second hand.
Use your buying power for good by purchasing from companies which have strong ethical and environmental credentials. For example, 87% of the products of the clothing company Patagonia are made from completely recycled materials, Fairphone manufactures phones and audio equipment from fairtrade, recycled and conflict free materials and the items are made to last and are fully repairable. The clothing company Community Clothing focuses on durability, using clean energy and materials with low environment impact.
Shop with less packaging
Reduce your carbon footprint by buying items with little or no packaging, plastic free where possible. Seek out your local refill shop where prices are often considerably less than packaged items from supermarkets etc.
Refill shops near Stokesley & villages include:
What Planet Are You On, Guisborough
Earth Unwrapped, Northallerton
Off The Scale, Castleton
Roots Farm Shop, East Rounton
Refill Weigh Save, Billingham
Shop seasonally
Fruit and vegetables grown out of season create large amounts of carbon emissions in heated glasshouses etc.. By eating fruit and vegetables in season you can make meals more interesting and varied throughout the year as well as addressing climate change.
More information here: https://hubbub.org.uk/
Shop for climate justice
Climate justice refers to the reality that people in some parts of the world who have contributed least to causing climate change are already unfortunately experiencing disproportionately more negative impact of climate breakdown – we’re talking about increased levels of flooding, drought, wildfires and scorching temperatures that is destroying lives and livelihoods. Organisations like Transform Trade (was Traidcraft) aim to address these inequalities through partnering with farmers, workers and artisans in the global south to help them benefit from more sustainable and equitable trade. In the UK they advocate and campaign for changes to business practices and government policy.
https://www.transform-trade.org
The Ethical Consumer is also a great source of information and ideas: https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/how-to-shop-ethically
CASaV Leaflets
This page is also available as one of a series of CASaV Leaflets, so you can download a printable pdf here – double sided tri-fold leaflet or an editable version which you can make your own and use for your group – OpenOffice document.
Climate Action Stokesley and Villages 