lish:shopping

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-# Low-impact shopping+This topic is part of [[gt:community|Community & culture]], [[gt:economy|Economy & finance]] and [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]]. 
 +====== Low-impact shopping ======
  
  
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-## What is low-impact shopping?+===== What is low-impact shopping? =====
  
 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](/demo/democracy) 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](/demo/democracy) and decimates small businesses.
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 There are 3 main features of low-impact shopping: There are 3 main features of low-impact shopping:
  
-### Shopping less+==== Shopping less ====
  
 This is linked with ['downshifting'](/down/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'](/down/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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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Green / ethical shopping+==== Green / ethical shopping ====
  
 It's about buying products that are recycled (including second-hand), biodegradable, organic, fair trade, and contain natural ingredients. And coming at it from a negative perspective, it's also about boycotting products and companies associated with things such as environmental damage and pollution, sweat shops, toxic ingredients, animal cruelty, working with oppressive regimes and arms manufacturing. [Nestlé](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9_boycott) have been targeted because of their spreading of disinformation about powdered milk vs breastfeeding in Africa; Amazon have been targeted too, [for lots of reasons](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/reasons-not-buy-amazon/). It's about buying products that are recycled (including second-hand), biodegradable, organic, fair trade, and contain natural ingredients. And coming at it from a negative perspective, it's also about boycotting products and companies associated with things such as environmental damage and pollution, sweat shops, toxic ingredients, animal cruelty, working with oppressive regimes and arms manufacturing. [Nestlé](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestl%C3%A9_boycott) have been targeted because of their spreading of disinformation about powdered milk vs breastfeeding in Africa; Amazon have been targeted too, [for lots of reasons](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/reasons-not-buy-amazon/).
  
-### Local shopping+==== Local shopping ====
  
 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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-## What are the benefits of low-impact shopping?+===== What are the benefits of low-impact shopping? =====
  
-### Shopping less+==== Shopping less ====
  
 Shopping less means less production, land use, resource use and transport – all of which involve environmental damage to a certain degree. It can also make you healthier and happier, as you reduce stress by having to earn and spend less, and ignoring advertising, which is designed to make us dissatisfied and unhappy. Shopping less means less production, land use, resource use and transport – all of which involve environmental damage to a certain degree. It can also make you healthier and happier, as you reduce stress by having to earn and spend less, and ignoring advertising, which is designed to make us dissatisfied and unhappy.
  
-### Green / ethical shopping+==== Green / ethical shopping ====
  
 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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 </figure> </figure>
 </WRAP> </WRAP>
-### Local shopping+==== Local shopping ====
  
 Small, local, family-run shops are being [put out of business by big supermarkets](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/supermarkets-destroy-jobs-and-local-resilience/). Independent grocers have fallen from over 120,000 in 1960 to less than 20,000 now. That means more money concentrated in just a few enormous companies – which overflows into the political system, preventing real democracy. So many things that supermarkets do are damaging – flying goods around the world, squeezing suppliers to increase profits, concreting green belts, requiring customers to drive due to their out-of-town location, selling only the products of giant corporations – damaging democracy even more. And yet they control 80% of the UK grocery trade, and are aiming for 100%. And shopping malls are full of corporate chains that look the same wherever they are - boring as well as damaging. Small, local, family-run shops are being [put out of business by big supermarkets](http://lowimpactorg.onyx-sites.io/supermarkets-destroy-jobs-and-local-resilience/). Independent grocers have fallen from over 120,000 in 1960 to less than 20,000 now. That means more money concentrated in just a few enormous companies – which overflows into the political system, preventing real democracy. So many things that supermarkets do are damaging – flying goods around the world, squeezing suppliers to increase profits, concreting green belts, requiring customers to drive due to their out-of-town location, selling only the products of giant corporations – damaging democracy even more. And yet they control 80% of the UK grocery trade, and are aiming for 100%. And shopping malls are full of corporate chains that look the same wherever they are - boring as well as damaging.
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-## What can I do?+===== What can I do? =====
  
 First you have to get into a certain mindset, which involves ignoring the dominant messages in society – to earn more, consume more, buy brands etc. It's very difficult, and involves a slow change in habits, until you get to the point where TV adverts, shopping malls and T\*\*\*o make you feel slightly unclean. It's difficult in today's world, but we think it's worth getting there. First you have to get into a certain mindset, which involves ignoring the dominant messages in society – to earn more, consume more, buy brands etc. It's very difficult, and involves a slow change in habits, until you get to the point where TV adverts, shopping malls and T\*\*\*o make you feel slightly unclean. It's difficult in today's world, but we think it's worth getting there.
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 Even when you've decided to do it, there's a lot of '[greenwashing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing)' around, so you have to be careful when it comes to low-impact shopping. Even when you've decided to do it, there's a lot of '[greenwashing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing)' around, so you have to be careful when it comes to low-impact shopping.
  
-### Shopping less+==== Shopping less ====
  
 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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 </WRAP> </WRAP>
  
-### Green / ethical shopping+==== Green / ethical shopping ====
  
 Do your homework - there are lots of different ratings, certification and labelling schemes; they change regularly, and some are more reliable than others (e.g. some are voluntary, or run by the companies themselves). Do your homework - there are lots of different ratings, certification and labelling schemes; they change regularly, and some are more reliable than others (e.g. some are voluntary, or run by the companies themselves).
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 And try to avoid anything disposable – including taking your own bag shopping with you. And try to avoid anything disposable – including taking your own bag shopping with you.
  
-### Local shopping+==== Local shopping ====
  
 You'll need to do a bit of research into what local shops you have, and if you have a local market day, [veg box scheme](/vegb/veg_box_schemes) or [farmers' market](/farm/farmers_markets). Farmers' markets are just markets on the continent. We only see them as something special because we've gone so far in the opposite direction. You'll need to do a bit of research into what local shops you have, and if you have a local market day, [veg box scheme](/vegb/veg_box_schemes) or [farmers' market](/farm/farmers_markets). Farmers' markets are just markets on the continent. We only see them as something special because we've gone so far in the opposite direction.
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-## Further resources+===== Forum ===== 
 + 
 +This topic belongs to the section [[gt:community|Community & culture]]. You can ask questions or add information on the corresponding [Forum section](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/community). 
 + 
 +It is also in the sections 
 +  * [[gt:economy|Economy & finance]] (Forum: [Economy & finance](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/economy)) 
 +  * [[gt:wellbeing|Wellbeing, home & relationships]] (Forum: [Wellbeing, home & relationships](https://forum.growingthecommons.org/t/wellbeing)) 
 + 
 +===== Further resources =====
  
 - [Adbusters](https://www.adbusters.org/) - spoof ads, ridiculing corporate advertising campaigns - [Adbusters](https://www.adbusters.org/) - spoof ads, ridiculing corporate advertising campaigns
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-## Related topics+===== Related topics =====
  
 +- [[down:Downshifting]]
 +- [[fair:Fairtrade]]
 +- [[farm:Farmers markets]]
 +- [Collaborative finance](cofi:collaborative_finance)
 +- [[mucr:Mutual credit]]
 +- [[smal:Small|Small is beautiful]]
  
-## Specialist curators of this topic+===== Specialist curators of this topic =====
  
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