The benefits of buying from eco-friendly merchants
by Phil Hornshaw
By now, most of us have probably heard the benefits of trying to shop with eco-friendly stores and merchants. After all, the environmental benefits of patronizing these kinds of places are beneficial for the long-term health of the planet, and organic foods and clothing often have a healthier impact on lives on the people who eat and wear them.
Trouble is, seeking out stores that are a little more eco-minded can be a pain, and often an expensive one at that. Or at least, that used to be the case, but as time goes on, more and more stores are getting a little more environmentally friendly. Better still, with some smart shopping, you might even wind up saving money when you do the right thing for the planet.
Enjoying (and protecting) the outdoors
A number of well-known clothing manufacturers have made steps toward using sustainable techniques in the creation of their clothes. Outdoor gear suppliers REI and Patagonia are two among them, both of which use organic and sustainable methods and provide information about the impacts of their products on the environment, and REI offers as much as 3 percent cash back on purchases, as well. Timberland is also notable for providing low-impact products, and offers as much as 5 percent cash back.
Also popping up on the clothing list are American Apparel and Nike, both of which have taken steps to use organic cotton and cleaner cotton farming techniques. Nike is known to recycle shoes in order to keep waste down, as well, and offers customers as much as 8 percent cash back.
Everything else you could need
One retailer that has been making serious strides to become more eco-friendly is Walmart, which offers more sustainable products and energy efficient appliances than ever before. That’s a big boon for convenience, especially when you can grab as much as 2 percent cash back, as well.
Even at your favorite stores, it’s possible to find eco-friendly items like Energy Star appliances and low-impact products if you’re willing to shop around. Hitting Google is another great way to find information about the green-ness of the places you frequent, or to find more environmentally conscious ones. Knowing where you shop and what impact your products have is a great way to help keep the planet healthier, and with a little bit of a time investment, you can also save money.
Save even more with Free Shipping coupons from ShopAtHome.com
You might also like:
Why you might want to switch your smartphone to T-Mobile
The best apps to find pet supplies, toys, prescriptions
Best gadgets and accessories for online gaming
Best gadgets for enjoying the spring season
These gadget retailers offer same-day delivery
