What We Buy Affects the Environment

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What We Buy Affects the Environment With global
warming, diminishing water supplies, and
deforestation, what can ONE person do? Heres a
sampling of some of the actions that young people
can take to really make a difference.

• Recycle Those Notes. This fall, most of the 25
  million young people heading back to classes will
  be loaded down with a bookbag stuffed with new
  supplies. If only one out of every ten students
  buys a notebook made of post consumer recycled
  paper, they will save a mind-boggling 60,000
  trees and 25.5 million gallons of water. They
  will also conserve energy, free up landfill
  space, and reduce water and air pollution.
• Put Down That Burger. It takes about 600 gallons
  of water to make one quarter-pound burger. Thats
  enough water to fill 2,400 one-quart water
  bottles or 11 bathtubs. By skipping one burger a
  week, a young person can help save 40,629 gallons
  of water and prevent 300 pounds of carbon dioxide
  from being released into the air in one year.
• Break a Cell Phone Record. By 2005, Americans
  will have thrown away 130 million cell phones
  each year. Wireless waste is a big problem when
  sent to landfills or incinerators, where the
  toxic chemicals they contain are released.
  Typically, cell phones are replaced every 18
  months. By keeping their cell phones beyond 18
  months and donating used phones to charities,
  young people can make a big difference in
  cleaning up the waste stream.
• Keep the Light Burning. Lighting accounts for
  25 percent of the electricity used in the United
  States. Coal plants supply about 50 percent of
  this electricity, with the average plant emitting
  3.7 million tons of carbon dioxide (a global
  warming gas) per year. A compact florescent light
  bulb (CFL) uses 50-80 less electricity and lasts
  up to 10 times longer than a standard
  incandescent bulb. By simply buying and
  installing 4 CFLs around the house, a young
  person can prevent the emission of 5000 pounds of
  CO2 over the lives of the bulbs.

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Visit www.ibuydifferent.org for more information.
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Quick Facts Buy Different
In 2002, young people in the United States ages
12-17 spent 170 billion. Advertisers spend 12
billion a year marketing products directly to
youth. 76 percent of young people worry about
overuse of the Earths resources. 89 percent of
teens said they would switch brands to those
associated with a good cause. The average
household uses over 22,000 gallons of water per
year through their faucets and showers.
Installing an efficient showerhead will save
thousands of gallons of water each year. The
average person uses 10,000 sheets of copy and
computer paper each year. Making sure this has a
high percentage of post consumer waste recycled
content will save trees, water, and energy. By
skipping one burger a week, a teen can help save
40,629 gallons of water a year.
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www.ibuydifferent.org Highlights
How much do we really know about where our food
comes from? What about clothes, CDs, shampoos, or
cell phones? The things we buy have a life of
their own. This section takes a closer look at
the real stories behind several everyday products
and the ways theyre connected to the environment.
Young people have a tremendous amount of consumer
power, but do they think about why they buy? Site
visitors can take a shopping quiz and read about
other young people who are making a difference.
Action central. When young people take action in
the Buy Different Action Center, their exact
savings is calculated for them, down to how many
gallons of water are conserved by eating one less
hamburger or how many trees are saved with a
recycled notebook. There are lots of other action
ideas for young people to do on their own, with
their friends, and in their communities. And
there are tips and product lists for buying
differently.
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Back to School Shopping Tips
Back to School is the second largest shopping
season of the year. Millions of students will be
hitting the stores, checking off their school
supply lists. Here are some supplies that
students can buy that have are better for the
environment.

• Notebooks and printer paper with post consumer
  waste (PCW) recycled content. Paper made with
  recycled content will be labeled as recycled and
  will include the percentage of post consumer
  waste (paper that has been used, collected, and
  recycled). The higher the PCW, the better.
• Wooden pencils certified with the Forest
  Stewardship Councils (FSC) CedarMark of
  approval. This mark ensures that these pencils
  come from cedar forests that are grown, managed,
  and harvested in a sustainable way that is good
  for the environment and local people.
• Rechargeable batteries. These batteries can be
  recharged up to 1,000 times and used for 5-10
  years--keeping CD players and digital cameras
  going longer.
• Reusable lunch containers. Rather than using
  more resources and creating more trash, take
  reusable containers instead of paper bags,
  plastic wrap, or aluminum foil that get thrown
  away. If lunch items must be rewrapped, wax paper
  is a better choice than plastic wrap.
• Bicycles and inline skates. Arrange a carpool,
  ride the bus, walk, skate, or bike to school. Any
  opportunity to reduce automobile transportation
  reduces the amount of pollution and greenhouse
  gases released into the atmosphere.
• Computers from companies that offer take back
  programs. Electronic computer equipment is made
  with more than 1,000 materials, many of which are
  highly toxic. Companies that take back their
  computers recycle many parts and properly dispose
  of others that shouldnt end up in community
  landfills.