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You can conserve resources, save energy, and prevent waste by buying products that: Are energy efficient Are used or reusable Are made with recycled content or are recyclable Have no packaging or reduced packaging waste by buying products that: Are energy efficient Are used or reusable Are made with recycled content or are recyclable Have no packaging or reduced packaging You can conserve resources, save energy, and prevent

silhouetted image of shopper Everything you buy affects the

environment, but some choices

are better than others.

Green Purchasing Green purchasing Green purchasing involves learning means buying smart. Shop with the about all the ways that a product can

environment in mindthat is, buy affect the environment during the

products that help conserve natural course of its life cycle from the resources, save energy, and prevent materials used to manufacture it, to

waste. Green purchasing can also how you use it, to what you do with it

mean not buying things you don t when you re finished with itso that

need. By educating yourself about you can make smart choices.

the products you buy, you can make Use the tips and resources in this

a difference in protecting the brochure to make yourself an

environment. educated consumer.

Buy smart. Take some time to think before you buy somethingmaybe you don t really need it. Maybe you can think of an alternative to buying a product, such as renting a DVD instead of buying it or sending a free e-card instead of a paper birthday card. Shopping with the environment in mind will conserve resources, prevent waste, and save money. Buy durable products. Instead of buying disposable products, which are wasteful, buy things that will last a long time, such as rechargeable batteries and reusable plastic mugs for drinks. Avoid excess packaging. Look for products that have less packaging, or buy in bulkyou ll have less to throw away. You can also buy items with packaging that can be reused or recycled. Buy used. Buying things that have been used before means that your purchase doesn t use more resources or energy. If the item is still reusable when you re through with it, then the next person to use it is not using additional resources either. You can find authentic retro clothes, room accessories, and even sports equipment at your local thrift store. Shop online or at local stores to buy used CDs and books. time to think before you buy somethingmaybe Maybe you can think of an alternative to buying a product, such as renting a card. Shopping with the environment in mind will conserve resources, pre- Instead of buying disposable products, which are wasteful, buy things that will last a long time, such as rechargeable batteries and reusable plastic mugs for drinks. with packaging that can be reused or recycled. Buying things that have been used before means that your pur- If the item is still reusable next person to use it is not using addi- authentic retro clothes, room acces- sories, and even sports equipment at your local thrift store. Shop online or at local stores to buy used CDs and books. shopping

2 Did you know that since your parents were born, the amount of trash each American generates has doubled?* Buy smart. Take some you don t really need it. DVD instead of buying it or sending a free e-card instead of a paper birthday vent waste, and save money. Buy durable products. Avoid excess packaging. Look for products that have less packaging, or buy in bulkyou ll have less to throw away. You can also buy items Buy used. chase doesn t use more resources or energy. when you re through with it, then the tional resources either. You can find

Share with friends. Another way to save resources and energy is to swap with friends and family instead of buying brand-new products. Maybe you and your friends like the same video games. Why not share your games instead of each of you owning the same game? Or maybe you can rent the game first to see if you really want to own it. Buy energy-efficient items. Look for the ENERGY STAR logo when buying electronics such as TVs, CD players, DVD players, and computers. ENERGY STAR is a program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products. Buy recycled. Buying items made with recycled-content materials means that fewer natural resources, such as trees, were used to produce the products. Products made from recycled paper, plastic, and other materials are usually easy to recognize in the storejust read the labels. Try starting with school supplies. Many stores carry recycled notebooks, pens, and other products. tips Another way to save resources and energy is to swap with friends and family instead of buying brand-new products. Maybe you and your friends like the same video games. Why not share your games instead of each of you owning the same game? Or maybe you can rent the game first to see if you really want to own it. logo when buying electronics such as TVs, designed to identify and promote Buying items made materials means that fewer natural resources, such as trees, were used to produce the products. made from recycled other materials are usually easy to rec- ognize in the storejust read the Many stores carry recycled notebooks, pens, and other products. 3 Did you know that for every 42 notebooks made with 100

percent recycled is saved?* Share with friends. Buy energy-efficient items. Look for the ENERGY STARCD players, DVD players, and comput- ers. ENERGY STAR is a program energy-efficient products. Buy recycled. with recycled-content Products paper, plastic, and labels. Try starting with school supplies. paper, one tree

how do my purchases make a difference? make a difference? how do my purchases 4

Silhouetted image of shopper Buying green lets companies know that you care about the environmental impact of the products you buy. Why would a big corporation care what you think? Because your current and future purchasing power is extremely important to them. In fact, companies spend $12 billion a year

marketing their products to you.* Shopping green sends a message to the companiesthat

Silhouetted image of shopper Did you know that 67

you care about the envi

percent of parents

buying a new car base ronment, and you re not their decision on afraid to use your buying advice from their kids, power to prove it.

who are not even old enough to drive?*

Your purchasing choices affect what your parents buy. Your parents buy groceries and

other packaged

items based on your likes and dislikes, Did you know that young

Silhouetted image of shopper people spend or influence and they might even the spending of $300 bilbuy a car based on lion a year, or about 1 in

input from you and 3 dollars spent?*

your siblings. Your

friends also listen to what you have to

say when they decide what to buy. Use

your influence to help others shop

smart and protect the environment.

Use the following resources to find more information about how you can make a difference! 1. Act Greena collaboration of the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Environmental Media Associationpromotes environmental awareness and positive solutions to young people across the country. <www.actgreen.com> 2. www.IBuyDifferent.org is part of the Be, Live, Buy DifferentMake a Difference campaign, which is a new national program from the World Wildlife Fund and the Center for a New American Dream. It teaches young people how to make a difference by buying differently. 3. The Cost of Cool co-produced by the National Wildlife Federation, Population Communications International, and The Video Projectis a 26-minute video and curriculum guide package expressly designed for teens. It includes background information and hands-on activities about consumption, media, and the environment. <www.videoproject.net/ cost_of_cool_exp.html> 4. Ecological Footprint helps teens and others calculate the impact their choices have on the environment. <www.rprogress.org/ programs/sustainabilityindicators/ ef> 6 a collabora- tion of the Union of Concerned Scientists and the Environmental Media Associationpromotes environmental awareness and positive solutions to young peo- is part of the Be, Live, Buy Different Make a Difference campaign, which is a new national program the Center for a New American Dream. It teaches young people how to make a difference by buy- Communications International, and video and curriculum guide pack- age expressly designed for teens. It includes background information sumption, media, and the environ- ment. cost_of_cool_exp.html> helps teens and others calculate the impact their choices have on the environment. programs/sustainabilityindicators/

ef> for more Use the following resources to find more information about how you can make a difference! of its readers try to use environmentally friendly products.* 1. Act Greenple across the country. <www.actgreen.com> 2. www.IBuyDifferent.org from the World Wildlife Fund and ing differently. 3. The Cost of Cool co-produced by the National Wildlife Federation, Population The Video Projectis a 26-minute and hands-on activities about con- <www.videoproject.net/ 4. Ecological Footprint <www.rprogress.org/ According to Teen People, 62 percent

5. EPA s Green Advertising Claims brochure contains information about specific terms used to describe products, including environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and ozone friendly. <www.epa.gov/epaoswer/ non-hw/recycle/greenads.pdf> 6. EPA s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing program Web sitewhile mainly designed for government workerscontains great green purchasing resources and links. <www.epa.gov/epp> 7. ENERGY STAR is a program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products. <www.energystar.gov> Buy Green Here The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County s Eco-Friendly Marketplace lists companies that sell green products, including book bags made from reclaimed rubber inner tubes, hats and mittens made from recycled sweaters, belts and jewelry made from bottle caps, and purses made from old license plates and hubcaps. <www.swancc.org> Co-op America s Green Pages OnlineTM is a directory of green companies that are committed to social and environmental responsibility. <www.greenpages.org> 7 Claims brochure contains information about specific terms used to describe products, includ- non-hw/recycle/greenads.pdf> while mainly designed for government workerscontains great green purchasing resources and links. is a program designed to identify and promote information lists companies that sell green products, including book bags made from reclaimed rubber inner tubes, hats and mittens made from recycled sweaters, belts and jewelry made from bottle caps, and purses made from old license plates and hubcaps. Green TM is a directory of green companies that are committed to social and environ- 5. EPA s Green Advertising

ing environmentally friendly, biodegradable, and ozone friendly. <www.epa.gov/epaoswer/ 6. EPA s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing program Web site<www.epa.gov/epp> 7. ENERGY STARenergy-efficient products. <www.energystar.gov> The Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County s Eco-Friendly Marketplace <www.swancc.org> Co-op America s Pages Onlinemental responsibility. <www.greenpages.org> Buy Green Here

Silhouetted image of shopper Take the Resource Conservation Challenge!

EPA s Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC) calls on all Americans to prevent pollution, promote recycling and reuse, and conserve energy and materials.

Achieving these goals means adopting a resource conservation ethic, purchasing more wisely, and using products that are easy to recycle and are made of recycled materials.

For more information, visit <www.epa.gov/rcc>.

*This information is cited on <www.ibuydifferent.org>. Special thanks to this joint program of the Center for a New American Dream and the World Wildlife Fund for contributing valuable information to this booklet. contributing valuable information to this booklet. *This information is cited on <www.ibuydifferent.org>. Special thanks to this joint program of the Center for a New American Dream and the World Wildlife Fund for

EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency (5305W) Washington, DC 20460 EPA530-K-04-003 April 2004 www.epa.gov Recycled/Recyclable--Printed with vegetable oil based inks on 100% (minimum 50% postconsumer) recycled paper. United States (5305W) April 2004 2 1EPA Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC 20460 EPA530-K-04-003 www.epa.gov Recycled/Recyclable--Printed with vegetable oil based inks on 100% (minimum 50% postconsumer) recycled paper.