So, are we all succumbing to the lure of advertisements and special sales?  Well, it appears there are cyber sales going on as well.  If you are shopping for Christmas, remember there are some great positives to the environment by going online. 

Top 10 list of why you should shop online:

1.  No driving means no car emissions.  Saves on gas as well.  You will be helping preserve cleaner air, even if just a little.  Go only if you’re riding a bike – but who’s kidding who?  You’re going to buy up half the store!  How can you get home on your bike?

2.  Paper and plastic waste.  You know you buy food at the mall – most of us get lured by the smell of a sweet irresistable cinnamon roll or a warm and greasy pizza.  Of course you generate garbage, paper and plastic – and if your paper cup is lined with plastic, it’s not recyclable.  Most paper garbage, wrappers and non-plastic lined cups could be saved, and recycled, but they are not – off they go to the landfill, wrapped up by a plastic garbage bag.  In addition, the shopping bags, plastic, that you get your mechandise in, what are you going to do with those? 

3.  You help support a more efficient system of merchandise delivery.  If you use USPS or Fedex or UPS, they naturally do their best to move their shipments in the most efficient manner.  In some states, USPS also uses biodiesel in their fleets, and I think UPS has been doing some experiments with alternative fuel vehicles in various regions.  Give them more business and maybe they will use more biodiesel or other renewables.

4.  You give online stores an equal (or closer to equal) footing with the big guys.  Some stores can’t afford to be in the megamalls or even local strip malls in your neighborhood.  Supporting some of the stores we have mentioned that may not be in your area (see my previous blog entry http://ecogreenguy.wordpress.com/2007/11/22/subways-starts-recycling-can-we-get-more/ ) helps them grow and develop their product line of renewable, recyclable, fair trade products.

5.  You can shop in your underwear!!!  Not that I do, mind you.  But you can.  You don’t have to worry about how you look, don’t even need to shower (although highly recommended). 

6.  Time Waste – how many hours do you end up in the stores?  How many times have you said to yourself that you were only going to be there for an hour and you ended up staying for 3-4?  Not too productive.  Online shopping takes away the costly distractions.

7.  Oh!!!  That salesperson got me to buy stuff I didn’t want!!!  Ever have that happen to you?  Maybe that store clerk was cute and you couldn’t resist buying more than you could really afford.  Maybe they upsold you to something way more than your budget.  It’s less likely to happen online.  Hmm…

8.  You can also donate to the Salvation Army online.  I honestly get a headache if I hear that bell ring too many times.  https://secure1.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/donate?OpenForm&Seq=1#_RefreshKW_CNTRY_CODE

9.  See anyone at the mall you hoped you didn’t?  An ex-boyfriend, any old flame, any new romantic interest that could jeopardize your chances with him or her?  And you’re caught in your raggedy old jeans and sweatshirt?  Not advocating being a hermit, but hey, something to think about.

10.  You’re buying something that hundreds of thousands of others are – what’s the uniqueness in that?  Want to be different?  There’s the perfect, unique gift just a click away. 

BONUS:  11.  Or, if you’re a guy and you want to buy something sexy for your girlfriend, are you really going to walk into that Victoria’s Secret?  Really, now.

 So there’s a few reasons to shop online.  Save time, save hassle, save embarrasment, save your waistline!   Remember, if you want to shop green, take a look at the other places online that you may want to purchase from.   http://ecogreenguy.wordpress.com/2007/11/22/subways-starts-recycling-can-we-get-more/