How to become a conscious consumer
Email your questions for Dr Libby to ask.drlibby@fairfaxmedia.co.nz. Please note, only a selection of questions can be answered. these kinds of products are more expensive – because the costs of production are so much greater.
But it costs nothing to ask questions. It costs nothing to take a more conscious approach to shopping by omitting something from your shopping basket because you’ve found out it was produced in a factory with unsafe working conditions for employees, for example.
As you make your purchases this month, consider what part you play in the chain of production. Are there any small changes you can make to communicate to producers and manufacturers that you want more nutritious, sustainable and ethical products on offer?
We all have a part to play in shaping the world around us and shifting some of the practices we feel at times, powerless to change, but that are unacceptable to us. I encourage you all to act on what you care about.
Here are some other suggestions to help you be the positive change the world needs today:
Take out packaged, processed foods and keep adding in local, fresh produce.
Source local, sustainable cafes and restaurants to dine in.
Switch plastic containers and bottles out for glass.
Recycle as much as you can and start a compost bin.
Shop eco-friendly, cruelty-free beauty products and fashion lines.
Switch to chemical-free cleaning products.
Use reusable alternatives to items commonly thrown out after one use, such as nappies, plastic wrap, paper towels and batteries.
Source the majority of your grocery items and fresh produce from local farmer’s markets and shops.
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