Go Green and Save Green: Ways to Buy Sustainably Without Breaking the Bank

Consume wisely, and waste less. This is any frugal green shopper's mantra. Choosing healthier, sustainable options is better for the environment and your health, and wasting less is better for the environment and your pocketbook.

Before shopping, think of which products you’ll end up buying then throwing away. Reduce or even eliminate paper towels and napkins. Bring lunches to work and school in reusable containers, and forget about plastic sandwich bags and aluminum foil. India has long-used the stainless steel tiffin in lieu of less-sustainable lunch carriers, and many Earth-conscious American consumers have started to do the same.

Here are some simple strategies to help you shop green and save money.

Buy produce that’s in season
A simple rule of supply and demand: when there’s a glut of a certain fruit or vegetable, it’s going to be cheaper. This means no cherries in January, but if you buy them up when they’re in season and affordable (between June and August), you can freeze them to enjoy all year. This is true for all produce items, like tomatoes and zucchini in late summer and apples in the fall.

It also means getting to know which produce items are in season (you can do this by perusing the stalls at the farmer’s market), and learning to cook with them. Alice Waters’ Chez Panisse Vegetables has recipes for every vegetable you could possibly find at the farmer’s market.

If you have any doubt that you can eat affordable, delicious, seasonal meals even in the middle of a harsh winter, just check out what owner Danny Schwartz has cooked up at Minneapolis’s Common Roots Café.

Buy food that is produced locally
Local foods don’t use as much energy for transport. Check the signs and stickers on your produce or ask the department manager about where an item comes from.

Become friends with greens
Popeye’s secret weapon was spinach, and it can be yours too. Besides being packed with vitamins and minerals, greens cost a fraction of what meat does. They’re easy to cook and a great addition to pastas and other grain dishes. Try kale, chard, dandelion greens, and mustard greens. For a simple, nutritious, and inexpensive meal, saute them with onions and garlic in a little olive oil, season with red pepper flakes, and serve over whole wheat pasta with parmesan cheese.

Vary your protein sources
This is where groceries—and especially organically and sustainably farmed grocery items—can get expensive. Tofu, tempeh, and quinoa are cheaper alternatives. Eggs are easy to cook, packed with vitamins, and very versatile.

Choose the right cuts of meat for your recipe
No need to shell out for filet mignon-priced cuts of meat if you’re making stew. Shoulder cuts are versatile and comparatively inexpensive. In general, just ask the person working at the meat counter for help. They’re knowledgeable and will give you suggestions for which cuts of meat suit your needs.

Reduce the amount of packaged food you purchase
This cuts down on the amount of packaging you’ll eventually have to throw away and is an easy way to look out for your health. Packaged food is often processed food, which is high in sodium, high fructose corn syrup, fats, preservatives, and artificial flavorings and colorings – none of which is good for your body.

Buy from bulk bins
When you buy in bulk, you can get just as much or as little of an ingredient as you need, virtually eliminating waste. For one-time recipes, this is a great tip. No need to buy a 16-ounce package of wild rice if you only need a cup. Many stores that sell in bulk will also allow you to bring your own reusable container. Remember to weigh the container first, so the checker can subtract the weight of the container from the overall weight of the food you’re paying for.

Look for sales on in-house organic brands
These are most likely to go on sale and can be good values. When SustainLane’s Diana Budds took Whole Foods’ “Frugal Shopping” tour, she found that the in-house 365 Organic brand was consistently cheaper than other brands on the shelves. In California, Safeway has a growing line of organic products that frequently go on sale.

Look to manufacturer’s websites for coupons
Many of the companies that make organic foods don’t have the budget to mail out coupons but will offer deals online. Stonyfield Farms and Horizon Organic both offer coupons on the web. Check to see if your favorite organic brand has an offer. You can also write directly to your favorite food brands and ask for coupons.

Join a Co-op or CSA
If you’re lucky enough to have a co-op in your area, join! Not only do they typically have locally- sourced produce and more organic and sustainable options, but the produce is often cheaper than at national chains. CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) boxes filled with local produce can be delivered to your doorstep on a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis. You can also vary how much you want to spend on your box depending on what types of produce you’d like to have and how much. Search the SustainLane CSA Directory for a CSA option near you.

Shop smarter
Shy away from “empty foods” that won’t provide much nutritional benefit. Choose whole grain, fiber-rich breads rather than white bread, go for brown rice over white rice, and eat fruit instead of drinking fruit juice.

Bring reusable bags
This is a simple way to reduce waste and ensure you’re not contributing to the billions of bags piling up around the world. An added bonus: some stores give you a small credit for bringing your own bag. Trader Joe’s has a weekly raffle for those who shun disposable bags.

Photo by Masahiro Ihara