Consumers, including employees in offices around the globe, can help manage forests by purchasing products and their lunch that were created or cultivated using best practices for the future of forests.
The answer to the dilemma of forest sustainability is in our personal supply chains, which aren’t always easy to navigate with the amount of information readily available. The supply chains can be better managed by looking for certifications such as the Rainforest Alliance or Fair Trade and checking your outlet’s website on who they source their products or raw materials from and the subsequent practices used by their “value chain” (or their supply chain).
When you jump on your proprietor’s website, the organization may have information about how they sourced their materials or the growing practices that were used to bring you your favorite lunchtime treats, just for example. In addition to some of the certifications, it’s best to look at things like regenerative farming practices, which can help rebuild soil health and don’t use chemicals such as synthetic fertilizers. In all, regenerative farming can lead to mitigating climate change.
In all, the consumer just has to look at a label or a company’s website and spend their dollars wisely to help save the planet.
What are the benefits of shopping sustainably?
- Regenerative farming can improve soil health and better outcomes for farming and lead to less deforestation.
- Regenerative farming can help with capturing and storing carbon and lead to mitigating climate change effects.
- Helps restore degraded soil.
- Can assist with future market shocks due to a lack of arable land and subsequently help control future costs for cultivation and consumers.
How do I get started with shopping sustainably?
Some of the ways listed here already include scoping websites of potential retailers where products can be purchased from. With a detailed eye on looking for certifications and using regenerative farming practices, consumers can make better decisions for the planet. Additionally, by keeping soil healthy, consumers and suppliers will incur fewer costs over time.
If there is little information on a company’s website about these practices, ask your proprietor if they have information. Some business owners might be willing to find this information out from their suppliers in the name of servicing the customer.
On a final note, if you’re having trouble locating products or food items and have not found a willing proprietor to locate this information, you can consider a garden for your food products (any growing at home can help mitigate climate change using the right practices). The production of products is a little trickier but try and seek outlets within 250 miles—a good benchmark for what is considered local, at the maximum level.