Purchasing

Focus on Purchasing 17 – 25 September

Heavenly Father, help us as consumers to use the power that we enjoy to influence the world of commerce for good.
Make us mindful of the provenance of the goods we buy;
show us how to guard against the exploitation of people, the ill-treatment of living creatures, the misuse of the environment and damage to this planet,
and give us an appreciation of the true cost of everything we buy, and of the fuel and resources used to bring it to us.
Save us from indifference, and help us to act responsibly,
that we may play our part in bringing fairness through trade and commerce to people wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

When you shop, the decisions you make really do matter.

You're the customer, so ask for what you want. If you're looking for greener products, want to know about how something was made or can’t find the information you need, ask the retailer or manufacturer. Keep asking if you have to. If more people ask, retailers are more likely to start stocking greener products and providing the information you want.

Look out for recycled products. Recycled paper, kitchen rolls and toilet tissue are among the products now widely available. Buying recyclable products - and recycling them - can also help.

Whether its flowers, fruit or vegetables, buying locally and in season can reduce environmental impacts through reducing energy use.

You can buy fairly traded products in shops, cafes and off licences – look out for the Fairtrade Mark. This guarantees that the producers of the product are getting decent wages and a fair price for their goods. Goods are also likely to have been produced with less impact on the environment.

What are the Archbishop’s Council and York Diocesan Board of Finance going to do?

At Diocesan House and Bishopthorpe Palace we will procure our materials from sustainable, recycled and local sources where possible. Contractors engaged on our behalf will be asked to do the same.

We will procure from and support Fair Trade organisations where possible. We will engage with the farming community and other producers in our diocese to encourage sustainable production.

We will encourage and support churches and schools to look for ways to improve their “Green Purchasing Credentials”.

What can you do as an individual?

Look out for labels that show products have been made with respect for the environment. There are a number of reliable green labelling schemes, covering food, timber, clothing, appliances and much more.
Buying in bulk and using concentrated products means you’ll use less packaging, reducing the amount you throw away. You can also try to avoid products that have more packaging than they need.
Sometimes, items don’t get used enough to justify buying them. The average drill, for example, is used for about 15 minutes in its lifetime. Think about hiring things you don’t often use or borrowing them from a friend or neighbour. This will save the materials and energy that go into making all those unloved gadgets gathering dust in your shed.
Where possible, try to repair something rather than replace it. Think about buying things you can reuse, rather than disposable versions.
A quarter of people in the UK say they take their own shopping bag when shopping. Hang on to your shopping bags and take some with you when you next go to the supermarket.

What can your church do?

Have a Fair Trade stall at church events
Use fairly traded tea, coffee and communion wine.
Support local trades people.
Become a Fair Trade Church - to do this, you need to use Fairtrade tea and coffee after services and in all meetings for which you have responsibility, move forward on using other Fairtrade products such as sugar, biscuits and fruit, and promote Fairtrade during Fairtrade Fortnight and during the year through events, worship and other activities whenever possible. If you’re interested, visit www.fairtrade.org.uk

What else is happening?

Fairtrade Fortnight is 28 February – 13 March www.fairtrade.org.uk

National Organic Month is September www.soilassociation.org

British Food Fortnight is 17 September – 2 October www.lovebritishfood.co.uk

Further resources

Fairtrade Foundation www.fairtrade.org.uk

Linking Environment and Farming www.leafuk.org

Ethical Consumer Magazine www.ethicalconsumer.org