Cagwin & Dorward Landscape Contractors

Wondering how you can further reduce your Carbon Footprint?

B.Y.O.B. when holiday shopping and for your New Year's Resolution!

This holiday season is a great time to start the habit of carrying your wise and efficient purchases in Re-usable Bags.

Some grocery stores will provide a discount for purchasing or using re-usable bags. Others, like Trader Joe’s, will enter you in their contest to win an in store certificate - just for using your own shopping bags!

Many of today's re-usable bags are already recycled polypropylene (A.K.A. - Yogurt, Butter, Ketchup, Syrup, Rx and even plastic bottle caps). By using these bags, you're keeping such trash items out of the landfill.

Although the ink used on the bags is non-toxic, it is not vegetable based - that wouldn't adhere to the material. The bags are tear resistant, water repellent and washable - try to get that from the average plastic or paper bag!

That's great but, why should you take a pledge?

Virtually everything we consume requires an energy input and unleashes a climate impact. Everything! That includes all the products we buy as well as all the bags in which we haul all that stuff home.

Each year Americans go through 100 billion plastic shopping bags (that's 12 million barrels of oil) and 10 billion paper bags while living the consumer-lifestyle that is responsible for 25% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions.

Too many reusable bags needed for the holiday shopping season?

If you end up with a collection of store bags from your holiday shopping - why not use them as gift bags? Just throw on a bow, add some tissue or even shredded paper. Be sure to explain why you did this to the recipient.

Here are some other things to consider as you shop this year.

Is this purchase something that is needed?
Do I already own something that will serve the same purpose?
Can I borrow one instead of buying new?
Can I make something that will serve the same purpose instead of buying new?
Can I buy one used instead of new?
Would someone be willing to split the cost and share this with me?
Can I buy one made locally?
Can I buy one that was made with environmentally responsible materials?
Can I buy one that was made with fair labor practices?
Can I get something that serves more than just one purpose?
Can I get something human-powered or solar-powered instead of electric- or gas-powered?
Can I resell it for close to what I paid for it?
Can I compost or recycle it when I am done with it?

Break the addiction!

The best present you can give to your friends and family . . . is your presence.

Becoming Part of the Solution ... GO! Team

GO! - Carbon Conscious Challenge - Bring Your Own Bag