How to Live a Sustainable Lifestyle
When shopping for food you can buy in a much more responsible and sustainable way.
Here is a start - BUT don’t forget the simple things you can do.
REMEMBER SHOPPING IS NOT A NEUTRAL ACTIVITY.
The three key questions in food shopping are:
WHAT are you buying?
WHERE are you buying it?
WHEN are you buying it?
WHAT…
- Buy things in bulk. It can be cheaper to buy in bulk. But can you use all the contents? It’s no good if it will go out of date before you use it! Buying in bulk can save on packaging, too. Often things in bulk are not packaged with all the fancy schmancy wrapping that uses so much energy and resource to create.
- Don’t buy too much. If you throw food away, you waste not just the food but also all the energy put into growing and distributing it.
A loaf of bread has the following energy costs:
Farming/flour milling/baking: 63 per cent
Transport: 19 per cent
Packaging: 10 per cent
Shop costs: 8 per cent - Be choosy. Buy small amounts from delicatessen counters.
They use more packaging, but you can get just the amount you need! - Be honest! Don’t buy stuff you aren’t going to eat. If nobody in the house likes salad, you will end up throwing it all away. Look for other healthy options.
- Look at every package. How far has the food come? Could you find an alternative? Is it cheaper?
- Buy products with the Fair Trade label on them. The farmers will get a fair proportion of the price.
- Don’t insist on perfect fruit and vegetables. Does the odd blemish really matter if the food tastes OK? To get the perfect product, fruit and vegetables have to be grown in strictly controlled ways, using a lot of chemicals. And what happens to the fruit that isn’t quite perfect - that doesn’t make the grade?
WHERE…
- Support local shops.
- Plan shopping trips to use minimum fuel. Avoid busy times, traffic jams and sitting in queues.
- Share a shopping trip with a friend or neighbour.
WHEN…
See also Our Daily Bread, What does it REALLY Cost?













