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What’s in Your Bag?
A Guide to Green Shopping
By Michael PattonExecutive Director
The Metropolitan Environmental TrustTulsa, Oklahoma
Texas Recycling & Sustainability ConferenceAugust 2007
Buy LocalBuy Recycled Packaging
Buy Recyclable Packaging
Buy Reduced Packaging
Every dollar I spend is a vote for the environment.
People want to be better shoppers.
Package Material
Storage
Shipping
Reuse
Disposal
Weekly Grocery Spending
(Food Only)
Weekly Grocery Spending
(Food Only)Men living alone - $60
Women living alone - $50
Elderly - $45
With children - $31
With young children – $28
Source: USDA
Men living alone - $60
Women living alone - $50
Elderly - $45
With children - $31
With young children – $28
Source: USDA
Weekly Spending by Ethnicity
White - $41.67Black - $32.50
Hispanic - $32.50
Source: USDA
Produce Aisle
Packaging by Mother Nature
Compostable
Fair trade and country of origin
& buy local when available
Packaging by Mother Nature
Compostable
Fair trade and country of origin
& buy local when available
What is Organic?
Organic food must be produced without the use of sewer-sludge fertilizers,
synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics and irradiation.
A variety of agricultural products can be produced organically, including produce, grains, meat, dairy, eggs and processed
food products.
Average Annual ExpenditureFruits and Vegetables
9.7% of food budget is spent on fruits and vegetables
Fresh fruits 3.23%Fresh vegetables 3.17%Processed fruits 1.9%
Processed vegetables 1.42%
Food Institute analysis based on Bureau of Labor statistics
Baskets, Bags and Trays
Bananas and Banana Bread
Baskets, Bags and Trays
Bananas and Banana Bread
Meat & Dairy Aisle
Resealable Bag
Fresh, Frozen or Canned
Average Annual ExpenditureMeat, Poultry, Fish & Eggs
Food Institute analysis based on Bureau of Labor statistics
15 percent of American’s total food budget is spent on meat,
poultry, fish & eggs.
Use a meal planner to reduce waste.
Paper or cardboard vs
Polystyrene egg cartons
Buying in the deli allows for
portion control
Paperboard milk cartons
vs Plastic milk jugs
Natural vs. Dyed containers
Average Annual Expenditureon Dairy Products
Food Institute analysis based on Bureau of Labor statistics
Americans spend 6.42% of their food
budget on milk, cream and other dairy products.
Bottle Grade Plastics
94 percent of plastic bottles are #1 or #2
vs Plastic tubs
Cereal Aisle
Cereal Boxes as Art
Box is Pure
Marketing
The One Box we Read
Bag inside a Box vs Bag only
100% Recycled
Rising Post-Consumer Content
Beverage Aisle
Total U.S. Beverage Consumption (2005)
Carbonated Soft Drinks 28.3% Bottled Water 10.7%
Milk 10.9% Coffee 9.0% Beer 11.7%
Fruit Beverages 4.7% Sports Drinks 2.3%
Tea 3.8% Wine 1.2%
Distilled Spirits 0.7% All Others 15.3%
Source – American Beverage Association
Real Choices
Glass
Plastic
Aluminum
53 million plastic bottles Are thrown in the trash every day.
In Tulsa, the average household buys 225
bottles of water per year. Of those, 16 are recycled.
53 million plastic bottles Are thrown in the trash every day.
In Tulsa, the average household buys 225
bottles of water per year. Of those, 16 are recycled.
Shipping and Distribution
State Deposit Laws
States with Bottle Bills
CaliforniaConnecticutDelawareHawaii Iowa
MaineMassachusettsMichiganNew YorkOregonVermont
States Considering LegislationArkansas
IllinoisMarylandNorth
Carolina
South CarolinaTennesseeWest VirginiaPennsylvania
Pennsylvania LegislationSenate Bill 1035 establishes a five-cent levy on
containers holding liquids, including carbonated soft drinks, beer, sports drinks, tea, and all forms of water.
Revenues would be deposited into a state-administered Returnable Beverage Container Fund and used to compensate deposit claims submitted by beverage
distributors and redemption centers.
If approved, distributors would be responsible for paying the state a monthly fee for all containers manufactured in
or imported into the Commonwealth. Conversely, the state would be responsible for paying redemption
centers a two-cent handling fee for each unredeemed beverage container.
Plastic Bottle Recycling
The first plastic bottle was recycled in 1977 Recycling a ton of PET bottles saves 7.4
cubic yards of landfill space. The weight of a two liter bottle is 48 grams,
down 29 percent from 1978. Number of PET bottles per pound:
16 oz – 18 bottles per pound 2 liter – 9 bottles per pound
Source:NAPCOR
Snack Aisle
Chips vs CrackersGive Piece a Chance
Paper Product Aisle
Virgin vs Post Consumer
Grades of Paper
Recycle-phobia
Quality of Products
Around 45% of the paper Americans use each year (over 47 million tons) is recovered for
recycling. This is made into a wide variety of goods such as new newsprint, boxes and
office paper, paper towels, tissue products, insulation, cereal boxes, molded packaging,
hydro-mulch, gypsum wallboard - even compost and kitty litter!
80% of U.S. papermakers use some recovered fiber in manufacturing, and nearly 200 mills use ONLY recovered paper for their fiber.
Cleaning/Household Products
Beware of words like ‘toxic,’ ‘hazardous’ and ‘caution’ on
label
Find safer alternatives
Buy Concentrated?
Natural Drain Cleaner
Recipe:
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup white vinegar
Boiling water
Pour baking soda down the drain. Add white vinegar
and cover the drain, if possible. Let set for 5 minutes.
Then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain.
Paper vs.
Plastic
At the Checkout
Michael Patton
The Metropolitan Environmental Trust
Michael Patton
The Metropolitan Environmental Trust
