An Ideal Purchasing Habit for Halifax

Responsible purchasing addresses environmental and social factors, as well as
the total costs associated with each purchase. It means looking at what products
are made of, where they come from, how they were made and how they will be
disposed. It is also about looking at whether a purchase needs to be made at all
(e.g. Could it be leased or rented?). The intent of sustainable purchasing is to shift
spending away from goods and services that negatively impact the environment
and society towards products that are more environmentally sound and socially
beneficial. It is part of a growing movement within government, industry and civil
society toward more sustainable forms of production and consumption.

Why is it important ?
Quite simply, because it can help you make better choices that positively impact your
local economy, environment, community, and your bottom line. Every buying decision you
make has a variety of environmental, social and economic factors associated with it,
including:
• consumption of raw materials and emissions and energy used to process or
manufacture the product,
• labor practices of manufacturers and suppliers,
• geographic locations you import from and transportation required to
get the product to you,
• energy and materials required to operate the product, and
• waste associated with the product, (e.g. waste packaging used to transport
the product or the product itself at the end of its life cycle).

Thinking social yet, Halifax ?