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Science, Technology, Energy and Mines
As a Consumer
Every time we buy a product or service, we have a chance to exercise our power as a consumer. Fewer resources used means lower greenhouse gas emissions. Less waste from the stores means less waste from your home to the dump, too. Cut back on the waste you bring home and support manufacturers that use appropriate packaging and environmentally friendly products.
- Choose products with the least packaging. Beauty products and computer software are some of the worst offenders.
- Buy the largest possible packages for non-perishables. Not only will you reduce the amount of packaging, you'll usually save money as well.
- Bring your own bag - plastic shopping bags are another layer of packaging you will eventually throw away.
- Reject fruits and vegetables that have been unnecessarily wrapped.
- Use a lipstick brush. One third of your lipstick is in the tube, so a lipstick brush will save you an entire new lipstick for every three you use to the bottom of the tube.
- Garbage bags are produced to be thrown away. Good garbage cans are sturdy and difficult for scavenging animals to open (unlike bags). And you don't need a new one every time you take out the trash.
- Seek out food that is grown and processed locally and products that are sourced and manufactured in your region to reduce resources that go into the packaging and transportation.
- Buy recycled products which use less energy and fewer resources to produce.
- Choose products that are reusable, unbleached, phosphate free, organic and biodegradable.
Predictions and analysis on this page were excerpted from:
Climate Change Connection Manitoba
Additional Resources
Consumers Association of Canada – Manitoba Branch
International ENERGY STAR Symbol
