An article about reusable shopping bags in yesterday’s Wall Street Journal brought to light some important points.  Turns out some of them might not be as green as you think. Here are some green living tips to consider when it comes to choosing reusable shopping bags:

Where are they made? Many supposedly green shopping bags are manufactured in China or other foreign countries.  That means that it takes a lot of fossil fuel and carbon emissions to get them you.  If you’re going to use reusable shopping bags, try to find ones that are manufactured close to home.

What are they made of?  A lot of the free shopping bags that so many retailers are promoting as green products are made of plastic, which is often criticized containing VOCs, and doesn’t biodegrade well. Reusable shopping bags made of hemp and bamboo are greener options. I love the designs on these reusable shopping bags at ReusableBags.Com.  They’re made of cotton and manufactured in the USA.

One of the best ways to live green is to eat locally grown foods. Here’s why:

Transportation: Have you ever thought about the amount of energy it requires to transport food (or anything else) across oceans? It’s estimated that the average food item travels more than 1,500 miles before it reaches your table. Transporting fresh produce or other items grown or packaged overseas contributes to the growing environmental problems of air pollution, carbon emissions and fossil fuel consumption.

Health: By choosing local, organic foods you’ll be eliminating a host of toxins,preservatives, and pesticides from your dinner plate, and that’s a recipe for a long and healthy life!

So, do yourself and the environment a favor- reduce carbon emissions, save energy and eat healthier by choosing locally grown foods.