In the last post, Green Product Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Buy I said I’d gather some resources that can help you answer some of the questions offered. Here you go…

Now keep in mind that some of the questions only you can answer, but in some cases, you find info about a company or product that can help you to make a green purchasing decision.

Does the product have a long shelf life?: To learn more about product reliability and life expectancy, try looking at the following…

• Consumer Reports
• Consumer Search
• Find consumer input For example, Amazon.com, LUSH, Epinions, and other companies and websites offer places where consumers can post opinions, suggestions, and reviews.

Is the company who made it / sells it a good green and ethical company?:

• Household Product Database
• National Green Pages – to find a greener alternative for almost anything.
• 100% Fair Trade companies
• 2008 World’s Most Ethical Companies

Can I recycle the item and or packaging?:

• Earth 911
• Where Can I Recycle My…
• How Can I Recycle This?

Could I get it from a local company: Check your local yellow pages or do an online search but use your area as a search perimeter.

How toxic is this product?:

• For beauty product safety visit Skin Deep.
• Toxic Product List
• U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Washington Toxics Coalition

Is it tested on animals?: Visit Caring Consumer to see companies that do and do not test on animals.

If you do a little research before you buy a product, you can make sure that you’re getting the least toxic, and most eco-friendly product for your dollar.

With New Year’s right here upon us, it’s time to make some green goals. If you haven’t gotten your own goals squared away yet, then you may want to consider a nice big green purchasing goal.

Having a green shopping goal is smart, and covers a lot of ground. By flexing your green buying power you can accomplish energy saving, conserve resources, cut down on pollution, support local economy, support green businesses, and lower your footprint.

When shopping for home products, groceries, or anything, you can ask yourself the following questions. If you answer truthfully, you’ll be able to make greener shopping choices the whole year…

1. Do I need it?
2. If it’s a pure want item (i.e. unnecessary for survival) ask yourself, “Why do I want this”
3. Does the product have a long shelf life?
4. Is the company who made it / sells it a good green and ethical company?
5. Is there a more eco-friendly alternative? For example, an organic blanket over conventional cotton.
6. Can I recycle the item and or packaging?
7. Is the item a good value?
8. Could I get it from a local company – rather than buy something that had to be shipped long distances?
9. How toxic is this product?
10. How will owning this product improve my life? AND yes, you’re allowed to say “Add fun” – sometimes that’s enough.
11. Do I already have something at home that would work? I.e if you have a basic griddle pan, you don’t also need a big pancake griddle. If you have three cookie sheets, why would you need six?
12. Is it tested on animals?
13. Will this cost me too much to maintain?
14. Is this product worth my time? I.e if you have to work for money, then your time is money. Is the product worth what that time cost you?
15. Can I borrow one?
16. When I’m done with it what will I do with it – recycle it, donate it, turn it into something new?
17. Do I need it?

First of all you’ll notice that “Do I need it” is the first and last question you should ask yourself. Often, people don’t need the items they buy. We live in a super commercial society, and many purchases reflect that issue rather than reflect actual need.

Secondly, you don’t need to ask yourself all the questions for each and every purchase. I use about five of them regularly. You have to find the questions that work best for you.

Lastly, soon I’ll post some resources that can help you find the answer to many of the questions posted above.

Do you have any green shopping goals?