How to be green: 10 things you should never buy again

Small steps. That's all we need to do to make a difference and love our Earth. I thought the easiest way to inspire-us-into-action is list 10 things you should never buy again! This list is from Green America, a trusted source for eco-friendly tips and information. 

For more eco-inspiration, stop by Be An Eco-Shopper for best websites to shop green and Go Green for quick eco-tips.

10 things you should never buy again!

1. Styrofoam cups. Styrofoam is forever. It's not biodegradable.

Alternative: Buy recyclable and compostable paper cups. Best option:  Invest in some reusable mugs that you can take with you.

2. Paper towels. Paper towels waste forest resources, landfill space, and your money.

Alternative: When you do buy paper towels, look for recycled, non-bleached products. Best option: Buy dishtowels or rags to wash and reuse.

3. Bleached coffee filters. Dioxins, chemicals formed during the chlorine bleaching process, contaminate groundwater and air and are linked to cancer in humans and animals.

Alternative: Look for unbleached paper filters. Best Option:  Use reusable filters such as washable cloth filters.

4. Over packaged foods. Excess packaging wastes resources and costs you much more. Around thirty three percent of trash in the average American household comes from packaging.

Alternative: Buy products with minimal or reusable packaging. Best Option: Buy in bulk and use your own containers when shopping.

5. Teak and mahogany. Every year, 27 million acres of tropical rainforest (an area the size of Ohio) are destroyed. Rainforests cover 6% of Earth’s surface and are home to over half of the world’s wild plant, animal, and insect species. The Amazon rainforest produces 40 percent of the world’s oxygen.

Alternative: Look for Forest Stewardship Council certified wood. Best Option: Reuse wood, & buy furniture & other products made from used or salvaged wood.

6. Chemical pesticides and herbicides. American households use 80 million pounds of pesticides each year. The EPA found at least one pesticide in almost every water and fish sample from streams and in more than one-half of shallow wells sampled in agricultural and urban areas. These chemicals pose threats to animals and people, especially children.

Alternatives: Buy organic pest controllers such as diatomaceous earth. Best Option: Plant native plants and practice integrated pest management. Plant flowers and herbs that act as natural pesticides.

7. Conventional household cleaners. Household products can contain hazardous ingredients such as organic solvents and petroleum-based chemicals that can release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into your indoor environment, positing a particular danger for children. The average American household has three to ten of hazardous matter in the home.

Alternative: Look for nontoxic, vegetable-based, biodegradable cleaners. Best Option: Try making your own green cleaner using vinegar, water, and castile soap.

8. Higher octane gas than you need. Only one car in ten manufactured since 1982 requires high-octane gasoline. High-octane gas releases more hazardous pollutants into the air, and may be bad for your car.

Alternative: Buy the lowest-octane gas your car requires as listed in your owner's manual. Best option: Make your next car purchase a hybrid.  Or ditch the car and take public transportation, ride a bike, or walk.

9. Toys made with PVC plastic. 70% of PVC is used in construction, but it is also found in everyday plastics, including some children’s toys.

Alternative: Avoid plastics that are labeled as “PVC” or “#3.” Look for #1 and #2 plastics, which are easier to recycle and don’t produce as many toxins. Use sustainable construction materials. Best option: Take action to tell manufacturers to stop using PVC plastics, especially in children’s toys.

For best websites offering eco-friendly shopping, click here.

10. Plastic forks and spoons. Disposable plastic utensils are not biodegradeable and not recyclable in most areas.

Alternative: Use compostable food service items. Companies such as Biocorp make cutlery from plant materials such as corn starch and cellulose. Best option: Carry your own utensils and food containers.

Green America offers up five more things to never buy again that include Rayon, Farmed Salmon, Cling Wrap, and high VOC paints. For the full list with alternatives, click here.