Have fun, get what you need, and help our planet thrive with these three tips.
Some say the environmental movement officially took shape when Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970. Earth Day began to bring awareness about the impacts that industrial practices have on our planet’s delicate resources, wildlife, and human health. Since then, Earth Day continues to be celebrated each year in many communities with a focus on connecting and caring for our resources through river or park clean-ups, tree planting events, festivals, and more.
No matter how you’re planning to celebrate, we want to offer a simple reminder this year at Rebekah’s that can be carried with you year-round: Slow down and shop sustainably. It seems that consuming has become such a part of our everyday life now. For example, Amazon Prime has trained us to expect that anything can be delivered in two days or less. Everything has become a matter of convenience and speed. Many people shop – and consume – without thinking about the impact these habits have on our planet.
In honor of Earth Day, here are three easy ways you can shift your shopping routine to be a little more green.
Bring your own bag(s).
This is probably the easiest thing you can do that will have an impact. Let’s just think about plastic grocery bags, which were, ironically, introduced in grocery stores in the 1970s right around the birth of Earth Day.
Unfortunately, plastic bags can take thousands of years to break down and have a reputation of harming wildlife, including causing more than 100,000 marine animal deaths each year. Plastic bags are made using oil and require new resources to produce. As if these environmental costs aren’t enough, some stores have now begun to charge customers for each plastic bag they use at checkout.
Bringing your own bags can cancel out each of these issues. You can make a one-time investment and reuse cloth or tote bags for years. This directly reduces pollution and waste, which protects wildlife and conserves resources. You’ll also save money by passing the tedious bag fee!
Shop small, local, and seasonal.
This is an opportunity to rethink where you buy what you need. When you slow down and see what’s around you, it can be fun to discover small businesses. Your support and purchases at small shops help real people in your community, rather than big box stores or corporations.
In many cases, shopping small means shopping local, right in your city or county. When you shop local, it reduces carbon emissions from online orders and shipping items from far locations. And the benefits add up. In Michigan, shopping locally has added nearly 12,000 new jobs and increased economic activity by $1.1 billion.
Shopping seasonal is best when it comes to food and produce. Instead of getting strawberries in October from any grocery store, explore a local farmer’s market and discover what’s actually in season during winter, like cranberries, pears, or apples in Michigan. Eating seasonally means you’ll be eating foods closer to when they were harvested, making them fresher, more nutritious, and better tasting.
You might already know this, but when you shop at Rebekah’s, you’re supporting a local, small, family-run business that was built on love, integrity, and the desire to make a difference!
Look for third-party verifications.
There are many products that are made or produced sustainably, with low impact on the environment, that contain vegan ingredients, that don’t test on animals, and that protect our resources and wildlife. The only problem? There are also many products made by companies who claim all of these things when they aren’t true.
To ensure what you’re buying is truly sustainable, look for third-party verifications from legitimate organizations. Here are a few prominent examples to keep in mind:
- USDA Organic: verifies organic food, cosmetics, skincare, textiles
- Fair Trade Certified: ensures fair pay for farmers and workers
- Leaping Bunny: signifies cruelty-free cosmetics, personal care, household products
- Forest Stewardship Council: ensures responsible wood and paper products
When it comes to supplements, you can have peace of mind about Rebekah’s private label meeting the highest standards too. Our manufacturing company, Vitality Works, has been striving to make superior supplements since 1982. Here’s what you can expect from our private line:
- NSF Good Manufacturing Practices Certified: one of the strongest certifications in the supplement industry that examines manufacturing processes, quality control, and documentation
Many supplements are GMP compliant, whereas Vitality Works is fully certified.
- KOF-K Kosher Certified: verifies ingredient sourcing and handling to meet kosher standards
- Certified Organic Manufacturer with most ingredients being certified organic or ethically wild crafted
- All products are non-GMO, gluten-free, vegetarian, and most are vegan
- Additional quality measures include robust testing protocols for heavy metals, allergens, and pesticides
Don’t miss this sneak peek into the manufacturing process of Rebekah’s private label!
An added bonus…
With these three easy tips, you can have fun, get what you need, and help our planet thrive while you shop. In fact, Earth Day falls on Customer Appreciation Day this Wednesday, April 22! So, come in and see us, and save $5 for every $50 you spend. It’s the perfect time to try out these tips and shop sustainably.
