11 ways to be a greener grocery shopper

With claims emerging this week that Coles and Woolies are understating how many plastic bags they hand out each year by as many as two billion bags, it seems likely that environmental campaigners and commentators will be renewing calls for consumers to BYOB(ag) when possible. I have to admit I don’t always remember my “green” bags but the intention is there...

Here are some other ways to be a greener shopper:

1. Shop locally to support local business and cut down on the amount of fuel you use. Ten points for walking to the shops.

2. Choose products with little or no packaging when possible. Do you really need to put that pineapple in a plastic bag before putting it in your trolley?

3. Choose fish wisely by downloading Australia's Sustainable Seafood Guide.

4. Eat less meat. Producing a kilo of beef apparently generates as much greenhouse gas as driving a car non-stop for three hours.

5. Choose energy efficient fridges, dishwashers and washing machines when old appliances need replacing. The government's energy rating website has lots of useful information.

6. Reduce the amount of food ending up in landfill by only buying and cooking what you need. Compost scraps or start a worm farm.

7. Grow your own vegies and herbs in the garden or pots on the balcony to minimise food miles and packaging. I’m lusting after a copy of Stephanie Alexander’s Kitchen Garden Companion.

8. Buy Fairtrade products such as sugar, chocolate and coffee to guarantee farmers a fair price and help the environment (fairtrade products are generally organic).

9. Support local producers by shopping at regional farmers markets.

10. Avoid buying products that use genetically engineered (GE) ingredients with the True Food Guide. There is a growing amount of evidence that GE crops are harmful to biodiversity and the environment, and once they’re released they can’t be recalled or contained.