9 Ways You Can Be a More Mindful Shopper

I don't know about you, but my online shopping can be kind of excessive at times. I'm not just talking about clothes, shoes, beauty products, and the like. I've gotten used to the convenience of ordering household items to my front door instead of driving to the store.

With climate change and sustainability at the forefront of many people's minds and the need for everyone to take action, I do wonder if I'm not quite doing my part to care for our environment when it comes to my shopping habits, both online and in person. I know I'm not the only one who is thinking this. All the shopping bags, packaging materials, and delivery trucks lead to a bigger carbon footprint than I intended to leave.

In the theme of helping one another by caring for the environment and in an effort to be a smarter, more sustainably focused shopper, I tapped experts for their tips on how to be more mindful when it comes to shopping. Here's what they had to say:

1. Bring Your Own…

You can start small by making swaps and bringing your own stuff when you're shopping. "As a shopper, you have the power to be sustainable simply in your own approach, and this goes beyond just grocery shopping!" says Olivia Dahan, co-founder of the eco-friendly lifestyle company Bold Box. "Bring your own bag, and if you're purchasing a beauty product, be mindful that you don't need it wrapped in tissue paper just to take the product home."

Ashlee Piper, a sustainability expert and the author of Give a Sh*t: Do Good. Live Better. Save the Planet., adds that you can also bring food bags for produce and glass bottles and jars for bulk items at grocery stores that let you bring your own, like Whole Foods.

2. Shop in Person

"Brick-and-mortar stores can actually be more sustainable sometimes than buying online because you can more easily buy locally and, in some cases, reduce your need for packaging (whereas ordering online is full of that)," says Piper.

This is something I'm going to try to work on. Obviously, right now it's best to stay at home, but when we get the clear to leave our homes, I'm going to be more mindful of doing this instead of relying on delivery.

3. Think About the Packaging

"Try to buy products that are sustainably packaged or can easily be recycled," says Kira Cahill, the other co-founder of Bold Box. She also adds that you should try to avoid buying food that's in plastic bags or packaging (like pasta in a paper box versus in a plastic bag).

4. Ask for an Electronic Receipt

If a store offers emailed receipts, Piper suggests asking for this option. I used to feel overwhelmed by the very long receipts I would get at CVS, but then I found out you can sign up to get them emailed to you. If you have the CVS app, go to the Account section, and then click on Digital Receipt Preferences, where you can opt to get email receipts. It's really a game changer.

5. Take Stock of What You Have

It helps to regularly inspect your closet. "I first and always recommend working with what you have," Piper says. "Take stock of your wardrobe, mend what needs to be mended, and make note of the items you actually need."

6. Buy Secondhand

You can find some great and unique clothing and furniture items when you buy secondhand. "Think secondhand first," Piper recommends. "It's always the most sustainable option. So from thrift and consignment stores to Poshmark and ThredUp to clothing swaps with your friends, use secondhand as your first port of call when looking to supplement items in your closet."

7. Choose Fabrics Carefully

Some fabrics are more sustainable than others. "We love bamboo, and if you're going to buy cotton, make sure it's organic," Cahill says. "Please avoid polyester and spandex. These fabrics, when washed, release microplastics that are then flushed into the ocean and waterways."

Piper suggests opting for organic, biodegradable materials like untreated, pesticide-free cotton, linen, hemp, bamboo, and raffia. "If you must go synthetic, options like rayon, viscose, modal, and lyocell/Tencel are gentler options," she adds. "You can't beat utilizing materials already in existence, so [look for] garments boasting words like repurposed, recycled, refashioned, reclaimed, upcycled, etc. Opt for items made with vegetable or azo-free dyes and adhesives."

8. Check Home-Goods Materials, Too

Dahan suggests purchasing home goods (especially kitchen tools) made of bamboo, stainless steel, or reusable silicone instead of single-use plastics. Piper also adds glass, organic cotton, linen upholstery, recycled plastics, and reclaimed materials to the sustainable-materials list.

9. Do Your Research

It's important to stay informed and continue to educate yourself. Cahill, Dahan, and Piper all recommend looking to social media, eco-bloggers, and influencers, in particular, for ideas.

When looking at brands, Cahill suggests checking the company's website or the label of the product itself for green certifications. "In particular, look for Energy Star (for energy efficiency), USDA Organic Seal (for organic products), Forest Stewardship Council (for products made from trees in responsibly managed forests), and Green Seal (for general sustainability)," she says. "You have to look out for greenwashing. Greenwashing can make a company appear to be more environmentally friendly than it really is."

Piper says other certifications to look for are Greengard (for minimizing toxic materials in furnishings), Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association (BIFMA) (for ensuring manufacturing processes positively impact the environment and human health), and Global Organic Textile/Latex Standards (GOTS and GOLS) (the gold standard of soft materials, which certifies an item is made of at least 95% organic materials).

Sustainable Brands Recommended by Experts

Want to explore eco-friendly brands? Take a look at the ones Cahill, Dahan, and Piper suggested below:

Seventh Generation

Dropps

No Tox Life

Reformation

Girlfriend Collective

Miakoda

Organic Basics

Sotela

Pact

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