FEATURE: Ethical Shopping Trip

Recently I decided to go to my supermarket and do the greenest shop I could and it didn't quite go to plan. As a novice to green living this was always going to be experimental and educational.

Now here's the first hiccup - I did take my car as there is no way the 2.8 mile direct trip which has me loaded up on heavy essentials can weigh any heavier on the environment than the dozen or so buses required to get me home from this particular store.

I intended to try to do my normal shop but replace as many items as I could with green ones. Two instant big ticks for Ecover washing powder and a fabric softener.

I have switched to an organic milk and the price wasn't too much more than I was used to. I've never tried to fill my entire basket entirely with fairtrade & organic products and it was, to be honest, a struggle.

There are certain, erm, feminine products that I choose not to be without as I have not seen any reasonable alternatives - any advice on this Ladies would be appreciated.

I take a lot of vitamins and the best I have seen on a few of them are 'suitable for vegetarians' - now whilst that is a good thing - there must be some greener alternatives that someone has come across that they'd like to recommend.

Actual food content of my shopping is always on the minimalist side. I do feel that the fairtrade and sustainable food product ranges are growing nicely. It is the non-food (some may say non-essential) items I struggled to get.

Here's hoping that a) some recommendations come out of this from you all and b) that as consumers we demand more choice using our spending power.

Green hugs

Becky
OrganicsNow

Technorati tags:
cityhippy
shopping
laundry
chemical
green+living
organic
ethical
London
UK
groceries
supermarket