50 Shades of Green

You might be wondering if I've named this website “Hannah’s 50 Shades of Green” just to be cheeky...yes and...

...because there is no one right answer. There are many factors to consider; there are many shades of green.

For me, shopping is a constant philosophical dilemma. Support the local shop regardless of the brands they sell? Support green brands that I can buy online but they have the carbon footprint of shipping? Support green brands at a place like Walmart? Care about ingredients but forget about plastic packaging? Debating about all of that plus having an overwhelming number of options, it can be a real headache just to buy a bar of soap.

One reason I made this site, was to explore and share my favorite brands so you can avoid the headache. But first, these are the factors I consider when deciding to buy something:

• Believe it or not, the FDA has approved many chemicals that are not actually safe. I use the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Database to look up ingredients and their toxicity.

• Understandably, the main factor for most people is upfront cost. I also look at price compared to how long something actually lasts or how often it needs to be replaced.

• One way I used to make a decision was based on how pleasing the packaging was. These days I decided based on how easily the packaging can be recycled or reused.

• Does the company have a philanthropic side? If yes, what a huge plus! Especially if you're buying something essential.

• Can it be bought around the corner, or is it being shipped from California? Of course we don't usually know the journey it took to be produced and to arrive at your local store (although my friend has created an awesome website whose mission is "to deepen one's understanding of how their purchasing decisions impact the environment").

I'll go into more detail about each of these factors as one must understand them in order to be an educated consumer. More about what that means, in my next post.

xx

Hannah