You Can Help by Shopping Smarter

If recycling, changing your diet, or activism aren’t your jam, that doesn’t mean you can’t help. Educating yourself about how to make better choices at checkout is an excellent way to support Nature and the Environment - and get products that are healthier for you. If we want to see more meaningfully pro-environment products in stores then we need to buy meaningfully pro-environment products. However, lots of companies market their products in such a way to make them appear environmentally friendly when they aren’t. They do this through a marketing process called Greenwashing. Organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG) and GreenSeal can make it easier to find quality products and services that aren’t just greenwashed nonsense. Often, these products are better for you in addition to being better for the environment and everything that lives in it.

Ultimately, businesses have a vested interest in making money. Each consumer who stops buying products that are damaging for the environment is voting with their wallet.

[I have no professional affiliation with, get no kickbacks from, and do not host any affiliate links to any of the organizations mentioned on my site.]

Never trust a company that’s selling a product to be honest about how bad the product or the process that generates it is for the environment.

Trees don’t belong in museums.

Charities

Charities are not all created equal. Some charities spend most of the money you donate on executive compensation or other fundraising expenses. Organizations like Charity Watch and GiveWell can help you find a charity to donate to that puts your donation to use efficiently. Some simple research can help you make sure that your money goes where you think. If you donate $100 to a charity to protect something, it would be great to know that $90 of it went to the cause you care about instead of executive compensation.

Another great option is to donate locally! This is a wonderful way to have an impact on the environment and wildlife near you. Locally based charities can be just as good as major national ones, and they’re often focused on issues you can witness yourself! Smaller charities are typically eager to share their passion and welcome people reaching out to learn more. They also appreciate smaller donations.

Because only one animal is destroying the environment.