How to Make Greener Choices at the Grocery Store

Being a smarter, more eco-friendly shopper doesn’t require a lot of extra time and effort. Follow these quick tips to make eco-friendly, money-saving decisions on your next trip to the grocery store.

Buy local.

There are a lot of reasons that the “buy local” and “locavore” movements have been gaining momentum. Getting ingredients from a local source not only allows you to support local farmers; it also helps put fresher food on your table and reduce ”food-miles”.

Pick products with less packaging.

How much of what you pay for at the grocery store is actually product rather than packaging? Products packaged in cartons are an average of 94% product and only 6% packaging, giving you more value and reducing unnecessary packaging. You can help get more for your money by buying milk, juices and other food items in cartons.

Use reusable grocery bags.

Every year, Americans use approximately 1 billion plastic shopping bags, creating 300,000 tons of landfill waste. You can help reduce waste and keep the environment clean by choosing reusable or renewable and recyclable paper bags the next time you go shopping. Almost all stores sell or offer these types of bags, and some even offer discounts to customers who use them.

Choose products with packaging made from renewable materials.

The green-minded shopper chooses products in packaging made from renewable materials that are responsibly replenished. Paperboard cartons come from a renewable material. Seventy percent of the carton is paper from trees from US forests where responsible forest practices are used. Learn more about renewable resources and energy »

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The 3 R’s of Eco-Friendly Packaging:
Recyclable. Reusable. Renewable.

Only Where Facilities Exist.
Visit recyclecartons.com.

Little changes can make a big impact. Buying products in eco-friendly packages is one of those little changes. On your next trip down the grocery aisle, use the
3 R’s to decide if a product’s packaging is eco-friendly.

1. Is it recyclable?

Many companies offer recyclable packaging options. Recycling paper cartons can provide material to make other everyday products like bath tissue, recycled paper products and building materials. To find out if carton recycling is available in your area, visit www.recyclecartons.com or contact your local recycling provider.

2. Can it be reused?

Lots of products are packaged in containers that can be reused. Rather than throwing a container away, look for ways to reuse it around the house. Showing your kids how to change a carton into something useful can be a great lesson in upcycling. Make a bird feeder for a tree in your backyard or a pencil holder to sit on your desk. Use your imagination, because the possibilities are endless!

3. Is it made with renewable resources and energy?

Renewable resources are naturally occurring materials that can be replenished over time. Look for cartons that use both renewable energy and renewable materials. Seventy percent of the carton is paper from trees, all from US forests where responsible forest practices are used. And 50% of the energy used to manufacture the paper in cartons comes from biomass, a renewable energy source. Learn more about renewable resources
and energy »

Check back often for more tips, crafts and tools. And share your personal eco-friendly ideas and tips with us on Facebook and Twitter. You too can inspire others to choose cartons and live an eco-friendlier lifestyle!