Reduce your carbon footprint with packaging

You conserved energy in 2007 by installing programmable thermostats in your home. In 2008, you replaced your home’s incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent lights. If you’re wondering what you can do in 2009 to further reduce your carbon footprint, just take a look at product packaging.

Americans generated 60 billion pounds of plastic waste in 2006, and recycled just 7 percent of it. Despite our noble efforts, Americans still recycle less than we should. Every day, one landfill closes somewhere in the United States, so reducing the amount of materials that need to be disposed of is a critical part of environmental efforts.

From milk cartons and cereal boxes to household cleaner bottles, the packaging we use in our daily lives generates a lot of waste. In 2009, consider focusing your eco-friendly efforts on reducing the amount of packaging you and your family use and — ultimately — dispose of. Here are a few tips to keep in mind the next time you visit the grocery store.

Household Cleaners

Traditional cleaners may become passé as more people opt for natural products over harsh chemicals. Even if you are using natural cleaners, however, you can still do more for the environment — by choosing products that come in environmentally sensible packaging.

“Plastic from household cleaners and containers can generate more waste than many people suspect — 28 billion pounds in 2006 alone,” says David Bach, eight-time national bestselling financial author and green lifestyle expert who wrote “Go Green, Live Rich: 50 Simple Ways to Save the Earth (and Get Rich Trying).” “Furthermore, people don’t think about recycling their cleaning products, meaning that most end up in landfills. Reducing packaging reduces the volume of plastic entering the waste stream.”

Cosmetics Industry

Much of the packaging used by the cosmetics industry is plastic and most of that does not get recycled — from lipstick tubes to eye shadow compacts. Just as consumer demand for cruelty-free products drove the industry to find alternatives to animal testing, cosmetics manufacturers are now offering more environmentally sensible packaging options.

For example, one company has introduced a lipstick tube made of a biodegradable polymer of organic sugars and oils. Other companies are using recycled materials to manufacture packaging or are designing their packaging with easily recyclable materials like aluminum. Some manufacturers are even offering products like eye shadow in reusable compacts — when the eye shadow is empty, consumers simply dispose of the cartridge and refill the compact with a new one.

Bottled Water

Many bottled water drinkers imbibe in packaged water for their health — bottled water is perceived as clean, healthy and convenient. But until recently, the industry also produced vast quantities of plastic bottles that never made it to recycling bins.

Bottled water manufacturers are trying to turn those numbers around, introducing compactable bottles designed to crumple easily, which makes it easier to recycle them after use. Some companies have also begun making bottles from recycled material. Others market reusable bottles that consumers can fill on their own by purchasing larger sizes of bottled water and filling the smaller, more portable bottles as needed.

Packaging Pointers

Consumers needn’t simply wait for companies to improve their packaging process, however. There are plenty of ways environmentally conscious Americans can help reduce packaging’s impact on the environment, including:

• Shop for items with packaging that clearly states it is made wholly or in part from recycled materials.

• Avoid buying products in packaging that is not recyclable. You can check to be sure a bottle or other packaging is recyclable by looking for the recycling code — usually located on the bottom of the package.

• Choose to do business with companies that minimize packaging. For example, large wholesale club stores may not provide bags because it saves them money, but they’re also helping the environment by curbing packaging.

• Let eco-friendly businesses know you appreciate their efforts, and voice your concerns to those that fall short in the area of environmental responsibility.

• Choose products that have made an effort to improve their packaging and supply chain. Transporting goods through lower-impact transportation options, like railways and barges, produces less pollution than other alternatives such as trucking or air transport.

• Look for companies and brands that have an established history of environmental and social responsibility.