Shopping Beyond the Plastic Bag

2007 was the year you switched to using cloth bags for groceries and began using CFL light bulbs. What are this year's up and coming environmental ideas that everyone can implement? Overall, look for ideas that don't just save the environment, but are economically friendly: creating local jobs, saving money and reducing our need for foreign oil.

1) ENVIRONMENTAL FASHION. These days everyone is starting to look at the sheer environmental cost of our fashion habits. Disposable fashion (where you buy a piece of clothing knowing it will be out of style in literally 6 weeks) is out in favor of re-fashioning, vintage and buying from local designers. Refashioning comes in many different flavors: some troll thrift shops for items which can be re-sewn to fit, others scour vintage shops for a look that's timeless, others are looking to craft their own clothing and still others favor local or small designers. The idea is to create one's own fashion, be an individual and wear clothes you'll truly love (thus saving more clothing from the landfills). Further, organic cottons and all-natural fibers (bamboo, which grows quickly is particularly popular) are becoming increasingly popular -- and more affordable.

2) BUYING LOCALLY. Farmer's markets, restaurants that buy from local (usually organic) farmers, boutique stores and so on are hot on the list for environmentally friendly options. Shopping locally often means goods are shipped less far, the items are targeted to an audience that is more likely to buy them (and thus there's less post-consumer waste), owners usually participate in local festivals and help local charities, which all create a vibrant community that can thrive and be sustainable.