Green Purchasing

"'Civilisation, in the real sense of the term, consists not in the multiplication, but in the deliberate and voluntary reduction of wants.' Mohandas Gandhi"

Action Ideas

 * Eco-product supplies
 * Co-purchasing clubs
 * Sustainable tourism initiatives
 * Equipment sharing
 * Buy nothing day, Buy nothing Christmas - see UK links
 * Fair Trade towns
 * lobbying for Government action to enforce the use of bio-degradable plastic bags by supermarkets
 * Procott

Why it matters
(article needed) see also Seasonal UK

International links

 * International Buy Nothing Day

UK links
A number of sources already provide links to the growing array of commercial websites. These don't need to be duplicated here.
 * Ethical Consumer
 * The Shopper's Guide to GM Information from Greenpeace
 * Buy Recycled
 * Natural Death Centre
 * Tourism Concern
 * Fairtrade Foundation
 * Buy nothing day

References
 * 16 pain-free ways to help save the planet, by Maxine Holdsworth with Paul Steedman, National Consumer Council, March 2005 - The report looks at 16 creative sustainable consumption schemes from around the world and analyses them to see whether they'd work here in the UK. All use incentives, rather than the more usual penalties and finger-waving. This is the approach the NCC is recommending... Available for download from NCC website pdf 1.1MB
 * Design & Sustainability scoping report, The Design Council, RED, document available via the Design council website