Ok, so you're going
to the grocery store...imagine some of the things that you buy on
a daily basis. What alternative packaging items can you purchase
to reduce the amount that you have to throw away after the product
is used? Here's some simple tips:
Buy
from the deli instead of individually wrapped cheese or meats.
Get
the bigger box of cereal, it'll last longer. Better yet, buy a
BAG of cereal - instead of throwing away a bag and a box with
the normal box of cereal (forgot about the bag didn't ya?), you
just throw away a large bag!
Look
for the bulk items. A 3-liter of soda will last longer than a
12 oz., and it will be proportionally cheaper!
No,
you do NOT have to put the fresh fruits and veggies in a bag.
They weigh them at the counter and put them in a bag for you anyway!
Why double bag?
Speaking
of bags, doubling a bag on a frozen item offers little to no help
in avoiding the summer "backseat ice cream melt fiasco".
Just use one, and pack the frozen stuff all together! If you know
you are going a long distance with the perishables, bring along
a reusable cooler for in the trunk, or invest in a thermal bag
- often found hanging in the frozen foods section of your local
"Mega-Mart".
Eggs?
Bread? Think about this...what happens when you buy them? They
get their own bags. One for each of them? Hopefully not. If you
have any reason why eggs can't go on the bottom and a loaf of
bread on top of them, e-mail
us ! We'd love to know. (P.S. There isn't any reason...)
Look
for toys and other items that don't use packaging. Shop from the
parts bin instead of the rack. Plastic wrapping lasts about 5
seconds after you get home, and most often is seemingly impossible
to remove without a chainsaw anyway! Save the work, and save the
waste!
Sure, there are other
ways to save on packaging. But it's your turn to figure them out.
Be creative, and don't be afraid to tell the manufacturer that you
think they pack too much. After all, it is the voice of Joe and Linda
P. Consumer that makes changes in business.
