When you go to your local supermarket to do your shopping you are bound to see people using reusable shopping bags (and you may choose to use them yourself). By taking your own bags to the supermarket you can prevent hundreds of plastic bags from ending up in landfill.
While taking your own shopping bags to the checkout is a great way to help the environment, there are several other things that you may like to consider.
Produce Bags
Produce bags are a great alternative to the small plastic bags that are found in the fruit and vegetable section. These bags are sold in a set of 4 (1 large mesh, 1 small mesh, 1 large calico, 1 small calico). The large bag is big enough to fit an Iceberg lettuce or cauliflower. The bags are breathable which means that produce has a longer shelf life.
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Menu
When planning your shopping trip you can not only reduce waste but you can also save money by taking some time out to create an effective menu. By planning the week’s meals you can make sure that you use certain ingredients in more than one meal, thus reducing waste.
For example you may decide to make pumpkin gnocchi for an evening meal; this would not use an entire piece of pumpkin. You could choose to make pumpkin scones or have roast pumpkin with a meal to use the remaining pumpkin.
Planning your weeks menus is extremely important when choosing fruit, vegetables, dairy and some meat products as these all have short shelf lives. If you still have waste from these types of products why not put them into compost for the garden?
Buying in Bulk
Buying in bulk will save you money on most grocery items. Bulk items are usually have less packaging meaning that buying in bulk is better for the environment. While not all supermarkets offer the option of buying things such as lentils, rice and nuts in bulk, most health food shops do or you could try your local farmers market or co-op.
Eco Cleaning
You can save money and help to save the environment by selecting you cleaning products carefully. Rather than buy cupboards full of expensive cleaning products why not get a few basics that will not only last longer and save you money, the are also safer for the environment. https://ecoeffect.wordpress.com/2011/12/27/eco-cleaning/
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