Better Buying
Making more sustainable choices when we are buying items for our household and for our consumption can have a significant positive impact on our environment.
We make daily choices about what we purchase as well as what we do with unwanted household and clothing items. Products can have an impact on the environment during manufacturing, during transportation to the place of purchase, while you are using the product and also once you have disposed of them!
Another important factor to consider is the packaging associated with products.
With all purchases, some key points to remember are:
- Buy local;
- Avoid excess, unnecessary packaging;
- Consider the long term costs and environmental impact of products;
- Look for recycled or second hand products;
- And try not to throw items that can be re-used by someone else!
This website has some excellent resources to help you to make more sustainable purchasing choices.
Op Shops and Second Hand Shopping
Choosing second hand clothing and goods is an important way to reduce waste and save valuable resources which go into making new goods.
The Illawarra has a great number of op shops and second hand goods stores, many of which are run by organisations dedicated to community
services.
Many charity operated op shops also accept donations of good quality, unwanted clothes and household goods. However please check with individual stores as to the kind of goods they accept, as it does vary from store to store.
To help you on your second hand shopping adventures, Sustainable Illawarra has created this Sustainable Shopping Guide which you can dowload for free.
Sustainable Shopping Guide [PDF, 460kb]
Swap don’t shop!
Clothes swaps open up a new world of fashion, fun and practicality – whilst keeping unwanted items out of landfill and reducing demand for resource-intensive new stuff. Friends, colleagues, neighbours or community groups simply get together to exchange quality unwanted clothing and accessories for free!
Clothes swaps are easy to organise and you can make up the rules yourself. Ask a bunch of friends around (about 10-15 is a good number), have a couple full length mirrors on hand, some places for people to try on clothes, and let the swap begin!
The swap can be as simple as getting people to spread the clothes they have brought to swap over lounge chairs, and then letting everyone sort through for what they like. Or they can be more organised, and involve giving everyone one button for each item as they arrive, arranging all the clothes on racks, and then letting people redeem their button for items. A coin toss may be a good way to resolve who receives an item that more than one person wants!
Keep your eye out for local clothes swap events as well, which may be organised by local Councils, or clothes swap exchange groups. Sustainable Illawarra had additional funding to run a one off clothes swap event in August 2009, and it was a very popular event. Why not organise a clothes swap event with a community group you are part of – they could even be organised by schools as a fundraiser, with a small charge to be able to participate. And there’s no need to stop at clothes – toy swaps, book swaps… swap till you drop!
Planet Ark has put together a handy ‘how to’ guide for hosting a swapping party of your own – visit
to check it out.
Links and Contacts
Safer Solutions
www.safersolutions.org.au
The Total Environment Centre has developed a fantastic site with an A-Z of common chemicals, and safer alternatives for the home, garden and renovators.
Your Home
www.yourhome.gov.au
(03) 9639 1500
A suite of online technical guide materials developed to encourage the design and renovation of sustainable homes. Excellent resource includes a Technical Manual, Buyers Guide, and Renovator’s Guide.
Ecospecifier
www.ecospecifier.org
Over 2500 listings of quality products for ecological and healthy building and renovation products and services.
Good Wood Guide
www.goodwoodguide.org.au
Helps you make informed environmentally responsible decision when buying wood and wood products.
Consumption Atlas
www.acfonline.org.au/consumptionatlas
Calculate the environmental cost of our spending with the Australian Conservation Foundation Consumption Atlas
Choice Online
www.choice.com.au
Independent advice, product reviews and advocacy from the Australian Consumer Association
The Guide to Ethical Supermarket Shopping
www.ethical.org.au | 0403 899 338
This independent site provides a comprehensive ‘Guide to Ethical Supermarket shopping.’ It evaluates the social and environmental impact of different companies, and let’s you know which brands are a ‘better buy’ and which should be avoided.
Clothing Exchange
www.clothingexchange.com.au
The original site for organised clothes swaps, very inspiring.
WEA Illawarra
www.weaillawarra.com.au | 4226 1622
Take a course and learn new, practical skills.
NSW Department of Fair Trading
www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au | 13 32 20
Extensive information on setting up a cooperative.
Australian Marine Conservation Society
www.amcs.org.au | 1800 066 299
Not-for-profit charity working to protect the oceans and make our fisheries sustainable. Publishes the Sustainable Seafood Guide.
Recommended reading and viewing
Wasteful Consumption in Australia
Clive Hamilton, Richard Denniss, David Baker (2005). This report from The Australia Institute analysis consumer spending on goods and services that are not subsequently used – a total of $10.5 billion a year.
Wasteful Consumption in Australia [PDF, 137]
The Chemical Maze
Bill Statham. A guide to food additives and cosmetic ingredients
Living the Good Life
Linda Cockburn (2007). An inspiring tale of how one family embarked on an adventure to buy nothing for 6 months.
Confessions of an Eco-Sinner: travels to find where my stuff comes from
Fred Pearce (2008). A thought-provoking real life exploration into the stories behind everyday products in our lives – everything from gold rings and cups of coffee to T-shirts
Eco Chick: The Savvy Shoppers Guide to Ethical fashion
Matilda Lee (2009). Covers how you can create your own eco-friendly fashions through recycling and savvy shopping.
Organic Home, the Australian Guide to Clean, Green Living
Rosamund Richardson (2006) provides lots of helpful tips on green cleaning and creating a healthy home environment
The Story of Stuff
www.storyofstuff.com
A great 20 minute animation looking at our consumerist society.
