Caption: Patricia Beck/Detroit Free PressMeijer gives awards to companies whose products or packaging is kind to the environment.How can you buy green?Here are some ideas for being a better Earth-conscious shopper, from Norman Dean, vice president of Green Seal. The organization is trying to set standards of environmental performance and identify products that meet them.Get things that last. The more durable a product, the fewer you buy. That saves raw materials, transportation costs and money. Look for high quality; items that are made well usually are durable.Scream like a banshee when you see unnecessary packaging. A third of all landfill space - and $1 of every $10 we spend on consumables - is taken up by the packaging we throw away.Buy in bulk. It's cheaper and packaging is usually at a minimum.Look for stuff with recycled content.If you must use household hazardous materials, buy only as much as you will use.By Mike Williams.
The front and back of this photograph are pictured below.
