Eco-Tip 22

Every week we'll post another easy tip to help you be environmentally friendly.

Eco-Tip 22

Be wary of sustainable products. Yes, buying a t-shirt made of recycled bottles is great. Buying fabric grocery bags instead of using and tossing paper or plastic bags is excellent. But just because something is sustainable doesn't mean you should buy it. Even if the shirt you're wearing isn't made with organic cotton and isn't dyed with, oh, I don't know, locally grown organic plum extract, what's important is that you've bought it and if you've bought it, you'd better make the best of it. It'd be wonderful to have an ever expanding walk-in closet filled with 110% sustainable clothing, but it's even better to simply own the clothes you need and make smart choices when you have to buy. All the gratuitous articles in your wardrobe just mean unnecessary production and transportation. If you've already bought a piece of clothing or used a plastic grocery bag, use it to the best of its ability. Wear the shirt until it's torn and then use it as a cleaning rag; use the plastic bag to line your trash bins or carry food. It's not like a Hummer where you melt more of the ice caps every time you start the car.