Learn to be an effective shopper!! August 30, 2007

Everyone knows how important it is to recycle. Why let our old cans, bottles, and paper block landfills when we can turn them into new cans, bottles, and paper, and save resources in the process?

Toting our recyclables to the restrain for collection is only the first part. We also need to purchase products made from the materials we recycled which we call closing the loop.

To be an effective shopper, it’s helpful to know the terms companies use to define the kinds of recycled materials they’re using in their products and packaging. Understanding these terms will help you make the best choice and the biggest difference.

Virgin Materials

Virgin materials are created from things found in nature such as virgin paper is made from trees. These kinds of materials take the biggest bite out of the environment because they consume natural resources, and need large amounts of energy and water to turn themselves into usable commodities.

Pre-Consumer

Pre-consumer recycled materials are made from things that have been recycled at the point of manufacture rather than by consumers. For example, paper mills will take the scraps and roll-ends that are left over after a batch of paper is made and simply toss them back into the pulp machine. This type of recycling has been going on for as long as there have been factories.

Post-Consumer

Post-consumer materials are obtained from things people have actually used in their daily lives and then recycled at the home or office. Once your recyclables are collected, they’re taken to a processing center, sorted by type, and sent to manufacturers that use them in place of virgin materials.

The higher the percentage of post-consumer content a product contains, the more preferable it is.

Next time when you are shopping, look for and select products made with the highest amount of post-consumer content. If no post-consumer options are available within a particular product category, look for products with the highest amount of pre-consumer content. These aren’t as earth-friendly as post-consumer products, but they’re still better than products made from virgin materials, which you’ll have to use if no recycled content alternatives can be found.

If you really have to purchase products made from or packaged in virgin materials, look for those made out of materials your local recycling program accepts. It’s a way your purchase still can make a contribution to recycling and an important difference in the world.