As a Consumer

Buy in-season & locally produced food - Buy fruit, vegetables and other fresh food when in season, and where possible, locally produced. If we did this more it would have a positive effect on global climate change by reducing the pollution caused by transporting food over long distances.

Buy organically grown - Think about the cultivation or rearing method of your food. Organic methods recognise that human health is directly connected to the fod we eat and ultimately the health of the soil and the environment. Organic food is grown with limited pesticide and fertiliser use. Try to source organic fruit, vegetables, meat, cotton clothing, and hemp-fibre products.

Don't buy bottled water if you know your tap water is safe - transporting water from its source to the supermarket shelves is an expensive waste of energy. Also, plastic and glass bottles add to the already-high mountains of rubbish that we produce. If you do buy bottled water, buy from a local source (read the labels) and buy water that comes in recyclable glass or plastic.

Beware when purchasing souvenirs - Souvenirs such as woodcarvings, animal tusk or bone, and animal skins or shells which commonly purchased on overseas holidays may have been obtained from illegal, environmentally unfriendly practices. Also, the trade of many of these products is regulated and permits are frequently required to bring them home. There are strict laws governing exports of wildlife so you risk having your souvenir confiscated. Ignorance is not a defence!

“A pet is for life, not just for Christmas”- This saying applies even more to exotic pets, such as parrots, lizards and snakes, which can be difficult to look after and whose trade is regulated by these laws. Don’t buy exotic pets unless you are fully informed of their care requirements and are satisfied that you can provide them. You are better off buying them from reputable outlets. If you do buy them through a private sale, be particularly careful that the seller can prove that he or she acquired them legally. Otherwise you are breaking the law!

Check for timber certification - Illegal trade in tropical timber is contributing to forest destruction and is bleeding poor countries of the revenue they could derive from regulated, sustainable logging efforts. Many hardware outlets are now selling only timbers that have independent certification from, for example, the British Forestry Stewardship Council. If you’re buying a wood based product, look for certification that signifies the timber has been sourced from sustainably grown forests.

Check the ingrediants in traditional/alternative medicines - The increased focus on alternative medicines has revived the use of traditional remedies derived from plants and animals. A small proportion of these contain ingredients whose trade is regulated – e.g. orchid roots. If you are using alternative medicine, talk to your practitioner, especially if you are buying them abroad. Above all, avoid buying medicines containing tiger or bear derivatives, as these are almost invariably illegal and have no proven medical value.