How to shop without costing the Earth

Consumerism is undoubtedly bad for the planet, but with Singles Day and the forthcoming season of goodwill and unbridled spending, here are some eco-friendly ways to shop

Shoppers walk past a sale sign on Oxford Street, London. Yanice Idir / Alamy Stock Photo

As more than 100 world leaders wrangle over renewables and greenhouse gas emission targets for their countries at  COP26 , the lone individual can start to feel pretty helpless. As of early November, some  80 nations were reportedly on board with a commitment to slash methane emissions by 30% by 2030. But how can you and I reduce our personal carbon footprint? Can it even be done?

In 2019, scientists at the Grantham Institute for climate change at London’s Imperial College  recommended nine ways in which an individual could make a difference “as a consumer, a customer, a member of the electorate and an active citizen”. They were good suggestions, ranging from social activism to eating less meat, turning down the heating and replacing light bulbs with LEDs. The scientists even tackled shopping,  pointing out that “everything we use as consumers has a carbon footprint.” Culture of consumption 

But shop…