Good Shopping Tips

The Good Grocery Guide is packed full of tips to help you make the best choices in (and out of) the supermarket. We also have a chapter dedicated to shopping tips. This is what it says...

SHOP FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

REDUCE

Avoid over-packaging

Avoid products which have unnecessary packaging, such as individually wrapped portions inside an outer plastic bag. Choose products with minimal packaging.

Bulk buy

At the supermarket, consider buying things in bulk, i.e. instead of buying smaller portions of the one product every couple of weeks, look for the biggest tin or box to save on packaging. Buying bulk dry goods and storing them in properly sealed containers is more sustainable and far cheaper. It also means you make fewer trips to the supermarket and you are less likely to run out of a vital ingredient in the middle of cooking. If you live in a small household or don't cook often enough to get through bulk quantities, consider teaming up with some friends and splitting a bulk purchase between you. ¹¹ Look for outlets that sell bulk goods with no packaging at all.

Avoid plastic bags

Remember to bring your own shopping bags to the supermarket. Keep them in your car, in your handbag, at work, at home or knot one up and attach it to your keyring. When buying fruit and vegetables, avoid using plastic bags where possible - place them in a big box instead. If you need to use a bag for loose vegies such as beans, try a paper mushroom bag.

Shop smart

3 million tonnes of wasted food goes into landfill in Australia each year.¹² Buying only what you need means you can afford ethical products whilst reducing landfill.

REUSE

Get multi-use from your packaging

Try reusing packaging such as ice cream containers or empty jars for food and utensil storage or for school/art groups. You could also try reusing your packaging next time you shop at the supermarket.

RECYCLE

Buy recycled packaging

Some products, such as biscuit and cereal brands, are packaged in recycled cartonboard or plastic. Steel cans also contain recycled material. When shopping look for the recycled packaging logos.

Buy recycled products

Choose recycled paper products made from post-consumer waste, which means that the product has been used by a consumer and then recycled. For example, office waste paper is recycled to make toilet tissue, paper towels and napkins.

Buy what you can recycle

Buy products in packaging which can be easily recycled such as glass, aluminium and paper rather than plastic. Check with your local council as to what plastics they can recycle. Most councils in Western Australia only recycle plastics with code 1 (PET) or 2 (HDPE). Codes 3 (PVC) and Code 4 (LDPE) are less commonly recycled. Check the bottom of your plastic container to see the number. Visit the www.recyclingnearyou.com.au to see the list of all the products that your council recycles. Visit www.howgreen.net.au to see how green your local council is.

Close the loop, buy it back!

There's no point in recycling if we don't buy back the products made from recycled materials. As consumers we can have a great influence on the market for recycled products, so buy it back in its new form.

Go organic

Be wary of eco and organic slogans that offer no guarantee of real environmental protection. Look for the words 'certified organic' and for logos such as:

Support retailers which specialise in organic products.

Be chemical free

Look for products which deliberately avoid using chemicals, such as natural cleaning products. A product which has the Environmental Choice logo indicates a product that conforms to international environmental standards.

SHOP FOR OTHERS

Buy Fairtrade

Buy certified Fairtrade tea and coffee, which are now available at major supermarkets. The main difference between Fairtrade and other brands is that the farmers receive a better price for their crop.
Check to make sure the product has the Fairtrade certified logo.

Be informed about corporate social responsibility

If you buy a multinational brand, find out more about the company's history and impact on people and the environment. Use the internet to do a quick brand search on a site such as www.knowmore.org which rates the ethical behaviour of global corporations.

SHOP FOR YOUR COMMUNITY

Look for products that support local industry

This can be made easier by buying from retailers which promote local producers and therefore stock a greater selection of local products.
Look for the Buy West, Eat Best logo. It is used on food products to provide consumers with assurance that they are supporting the local food industry by purchasing quality WA food products made from WA ingredients.

Also look out for the Buy WA First logo.

The Ausbuy logo ensures the product is made by an Australian owned company.

If you see 'Product of Australia' on the label, this means that all ingredients are sourced from Australia and all production occurs here.

Buy local fruit and vegetables

Support local farmers markets and grocers that only sell in-season fruit and veg. You will also be avoiding produce that has been chemically treated to increase its longevity in the supermarket storeroom.

SHOP FOR CRUELTY FREE

Support Choose Cruelty Free (CCF)

CCF has a strict accreditation process for companies wishing to advertise their products as not tested on animals.
Check the product label for the Choose Cruelty Free logo.

Buy free range and organic

Choose free range eggs rather than cage or barn laid. Buy less meat and support practices which minimize harm to animals, such as free range chicken farming and organic farming.