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| ints:low-impact_shopping [2025/12/01 19:08] – external edit 127.0.0.1 | ints:low-impact_shopping [2025/12/17 04:30] (current) – external edit 127.0.0.1 |
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| Shopping is one of the most environmentally-damaging things that humans do, so reducing its impact is vitally important. The sheer scale of it is constantly increasing, and we are forever being pestered to buy more by the advertising industry. Products contain more and more unhealthy, polluting, non-biodegradable ingredients; and then there's the huge growth of just a few retailers who dominate our economies, concentrating wealth and power in a way that seriously damages [democracy](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/the-democracy-problem/) and decimates small businesses. | Shopping is one of the most environmentally-damaging things that humans do, so reducing its impact is vitally important. The sheer scale of it is constantly increasing, and we are forever being pestered to buy more by the advertising industry. Products contain more and more unhealthy, polluting, non-biodegradable ingredients; and then there's the huge growth of just a few retailers who dominate our economies, concentrating wealth and power in a way that seriously damages [democracy](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/the-democracy-problem/) and decimates small businesses. |
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| This is linked with ['downshifting'](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/downshifting/), which involves earning and spending less. It's about deciding that you just don't need a lot of stuff that's on offer, but it's also about buying more durable products that last longer, buying things with less packaging, and doing things yourself, like producing your own [food](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/category/food-drink-cooking-preserving/), [crafts](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/category/craft-skills-make-mend/) etc. | This is linked with ['downshifting'](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/downshifting/), which involves earning and spending less. It's about deciding that you just don't need a lot of stuff that's on offer, but it's also about buying more durable products that last longer, buying things with less packaging, and doing things yourself, like producing your own [food](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/category/food-drink-cooking-preserving/), [crafts](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/category/craft-skills-make-mend/) etc. |
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| Shopping at local, independent shops rather than giant chains, and buying locally-produced goods rather than goods that have been flown half-way round the world. | Shopping at local, independent shops rather than giant chains, and buying locally-produced goods rather than goods that have been flown half-way round the world. |
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| Helps to reduce pollution and environmental damage, and to improve the lives of exploited people. Boycotts really work – they force companies to change their ways. Also, if you avoid nasty ingredients in food, bodycare and other products, it will be much healthier for you and your family. | Helps to reduce pollution and environmental damage, and to improve the lives of exploited people. Boycotts really work – they force companies to change their ways. Also, if you avoid nasty ingredients in food, bodycare and other products, it will be much healthier for you and your family. |
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| Perhaps most importantly, local shops build [community](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/community/). | Perhaps most importantly, local shops build [community](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/lowimpact-topic/community/). |
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| {{url>https://www.youtube.com/embed/S6QavpGUMo0 560,315}} | {{url>https://www.youtube.com/embed/S6QavpGUMo0 560,315}} |
| First think carefully about whether you actually need something. Can you do without it or find/make an alternative? Buying unnecessary eco-gadgets isn't green or low-impact shopping, it's just consumerism. | First think carefully about whether you actually need something. Can you do without it or find/make an alternative? Buying unnecessary eco-gadgets isn't green or low-impact shopping, it's just consumerism. |
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| And you can boycott the shopping bonanza that has taken over Christmas. There's nothing about Christmas that says you have to spend lots of money – we've been persuaded to do it by big business. Make a pact with your friends (how often do you get what you want anyway?) – spend time instead of money, make them something, give them a fruit tree or vegetable seeds, and instead of a card, send a charity e-card. | And you can boycott the shopping bonanza that has taken over Christmas. There's nothing about Christmas that says you have to spend lots of money – we've been persuaded to do it by big business. Make a pact with your friends (how often do you get what you want anyway?) – spend time instead of money, make them something, give them a fruit tree or vegetable seeds, and instead of a card, send a charity e-card. |
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| Check the ingredients list. It's a minefield, but you'll quickly get used to it. Avoid nasty ingredients like aspartame, chlorine, or ethy-/butyl-/alkyl-anything. For a detailed look at the ingredients in your shopping, have a look at _[What's Really in Your Basket](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/low-impact-shopping/books)_, which covers thousands of ingredients - natural and synthetic - and gives an easy red, amber and green code for health risks. | Check the ingredients list. It's a minefield, but you'll quickly get used to it. Avoid nasty ingredients like aspartame, chlorine, or ethy-/butyl-/alkyl-anything. For a detailed look at the ingredients in your shopping, have a look at _[What's Really in Your Basket](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/categories/low-impact-shopping/books)_, which covers thousands of ingredients - natural and synthetic - and gives an easy red, amber and green code for health risks. |
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| Shopping local may not be easy, as so many small shops have been put out of business by supermarkets, but try and see it as a little low-impact shopping adventure. It can also be [more expensive](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/how-much-should-a-loaf-of-bread-cost/) (although not always), but if you cut your overall consumption it should be do-able, and as more people do it, prices will come down. | Shopping local may not be easy, as so many small shops have been put out of business by supermarkets, but try and see it as a little low-impact shopping adventure. It can also be [more expensive](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/how-much-should-a-loaf-of-bread-cost/) (although not always), but if you cut your overall consumption it should be do-able, and as more people do it, prices will come down. |
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| _Date on Lowimpact:2013-06-21_ | _Date on Lowimpact:2013-06-21_ |
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