8 Ways to Shop Sustainably and Save Money

From organic food to all-natural fertilizer, sustainable products may seem like they cost more – but savvy consumers can find ways to save money while helping protect the planet.

The following tips offer practical, everyday advice to help you save money and make a big impact. You don’t have to adopt all of them overnight or follow each one completely. Start small and consider what suits your lifestyle best.

Shopping at big box stores that offer free delivery is convenient, but it drives up greenhouse gas emissions by putting more trucks on the road. And because more than 15% of online purchases are returned, those emissions are often doubled. What’s even more convenient? Walking into a local small business, finding the item you need the first time, and going home happy.

Shopping locally doesn’t just have social and environmental benefits. It can make good sense economically as well. When you make a purchase from a small, local business, your money stays in your community, helping to support local jobs, schools, and services. You may also save money—many small businesses are able to compete on price because they have lower overhead costs than large, national companies.

Another way to shop sustainably is to buy used items, which helps reduce waste in landfills. Secondhand purchases also help build a circular economy, and a bevy of services – from clothing resale apps to peer-to-peer marketplaces – help facilitate them. They also save money, especially with bigger-ticket items.

For instance, the average used car listed at around $25,000 in January 2024 – that’s about half the average price for a new car.

Fast fashion and other low-quality durable goods may present savings upfront, but such products tend to have a shorter lifespan and replacing them frequently contributes to more greenhouse gas emissions and less money in your wallet.

Consider shopping for higher quality goods that have a longer shelf life. For example, choosing high-quality clothing with sustainable sourcing can save you money in the long run as it won’t need to be replaced as often.

Containers and packaging make up more than a quarter of all municipal solid waste, according to recent EPA data, and only about half of it gets recycled. Make a difference by purchasing reusable dispensers and high-volume refills for your non-durable household goods, such as soap or cleaning supplies. They typically require less packaging than the equivalent amount in smaller, disposable pump or spray bottles. They usually cost less, too.

You can also bring refillable bags to the grocery store and shop for bulk ingredients. From nuts to coffee, these items are usually cheaper per pound than their prepackaged alternatives, and you can buy only what you need and avoid excess. That saves on packaging and total cost.

In the United States, food waste is estimated at between 30-40 percent of the food supply, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Meal planning can minimize the waste, and bulk shopping can offer more savings over time.

To start, use a meal-planner app that offers online recipes, provides meal ideas, and creates grocery lists. Having a meal plan can also lower transportation emissions by reducing supermarket trips, as well as reduce food waste and impulse purchases, like take-out orders when you don’t know what to cook.

The average American orders food for delivery roughly once a week. With a meal plan, you’ll always know what’s for dinner and likely eat healthier, talk about a win-win.

Not only do bulk groceries support fewer trips to the store, but you benefit from volume discounts. Meal prepping, meanwhile, can leave you with a ready supply of leftovers so you can heat and eat, when you may otherwise choose to eat out.

Today’s supermarkets often stock a similar variety of fruits and vegetables year-round, but there’s a cost to that. According to one study, the freight transportation associated with fruits and vegetables accounts for more than double the emissions created from growing those same items. All other things being equal, produce that originated farther away results in higher emissions.

Produce grown out of season often comes from environments far from your local grocer. Instead, find a resource that shares which fruits and vegetables are in season.

As a bonus, these fruits and vegetables often taste fresher, having typically been harvested more recently than their faraway counterparts. And with lower transportation costs, they may cost less.

Durable goods – everything from toasters to freezers, stereos to luggage – account for roughly a quarter of America’s annual landfill deposits. Many such items end up in the trash due to minor problems, like blown fuses or separated zippers, that render something unusable.

By shopping for whatever is needed to repair the item, versus buying a new version, you break the landfill cycle. If your item is under warranty, the manufacturer may even provide you with a new part at no charge. With a little online research, you can complete a successful and satisfying DIY repair. You’ll also save money, reduce landfill was

Shopping online can reduce emissions versus making dedicated trips to the store, but only if it’s done correctly. Choosing the soonest delivery window for online orders – even if it’s at no extra charge – can force e-commerce companies to make extra trips, especially if you have multiple orders coming later in the week from the same retailer that you could have combined.

Instead, consider grouping online orders from the same retailer. In some cases, online services offer a discount for consolidating or choosing a slower delivery option. Broader time horizons can allow these companies to optimize logistics to make fewer trips, saving money and missions.

These recommendations don’t just save money and support sustainability. They can also create peace of mind – whether it’s having a meal plan, making fewer grocery runs, or supporting local businesses.

In the same vein, banks committed to sustainability can help eliminate the worry over your financial health. With Forbright Bank’s Growth Savings, you’re saving with an FDIC-insured institution that’s supporting environmental leaders like the National Park Foundation – all while earning more interest than in traditional savings accounts.

Learn more about our win-win approach to banking by visiting our Impact page, which includes a carbon calculator to track the environmental impact of your savings.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information and education only. It should not be considered financial or tax advice.