Consumer Action & Education

Consumer Action

Consumers can help drive product stewardship by making informed purchasing decisions. Here are some things to think about:

1. Stay Informed.
   Many companies claim to be "green," but how do you really know what's true? Don't be confused by "greenwashing." Websites like Greener Choices by Consumer Reports, Greenpeace's Stop Greenwash, and Green Seal are reliable sources for information.
   Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) environmental claims verification program
   is another trusted source for environmental claims verification. You can also learn a lot just by reading product labels. Look for products that are made with recycled content or non-toxic ingredients and that are easily reused, recycled or repaired.
   

2. Reduce Your Packaging.
   Look for products that have reduced packaging or, if you must buy an over-packaged product, send a letter to the manufacturer and let them know you don't appreciate wasteful packaging practices. Most consumer labels include a corporate address. And remember to bring reusable bags with you when you shop - you can reduce your own packaging waste, too!
   

3. Take Advantage of Take-Back Programs.
   Patronize companies that offer voluntary take-back programs for the products they sell, such as Home Depot’s fluorescent bulb recycling program. To find recycling locations near you, visit the Earth911 website.
   

4. Ask for More Take-Back Programs.
   When you buy a product, don't be afraid to ask the retailer to take-it-back at the end-of-life. If enough consumers request take-back programs, retailers and manufacturers will get the message and find ways to work together to make this happen. It really works!
   

5. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
   We know you've heard it before, but remember that consumers share responsibility for the products they buy and use, too. Do the right thing with a product: buy only what you need, try to use it up completely, give it to someone else who can use it, and when it's time to dispose of a product, be sure to first check with your local recycling program for recycling opportunities in your area.
   

6. Make Smart Choices.
   Consumers have the power to influence how products are made! Choosing eco-friendly products sends a powerful message to producers because they need to know that the purchase price is not the only factor that influences your decision making. Make smart purchasing decisions. Websites like GoodGuide are helping consumers find safe, healthy and green products.

What You Can Do To Help

Support and Connect with CPSC

• Stay informed! Subscribe to CPSC's Facebook Fan Page.
  
  
• Spread the word by linking to CPSC's LinkedIn profile.
  
  
• Pledge your support for CPSC
  
  
• Donate to CPSC! CPSC is a federally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. We welcome donations, large and small, to support our work and progress towards product stewardship. Funding us helps show your support for product stewardship and it’s tax deductible. Donate online.
  
  

Write a Letter or Email

• To Your Friends and Colleagues:
  See our sample email that can be sent to friends and colleagues to inform them about CPSC's work and enlist their support.
• To Your Local Elected Officials:
  Let your City Council or Board of Supervisors know that you support extended producer responsibility.
  
• To State Legislators:
  Tell your legislators that you support product stewardship and want them to vote in support of product stewardship legislation.
  

  To find your elected representatives, go to an interactive map of State Senate and Assembly districts.
  

Buy Recycled

Recycle Store CalRecycle
Shop with the environment in mind: use the California Integrated Waste Management’s online directory of recycled content products.

Here are two of many web sites that provide information on buying green:

• GoodGuide
  
• Green America Today

Reuse

Join a free, local online reuse group like Freecyclers have the most interesting exchanges. Find postings for free building materials, clothing, appliances, even plants, fruits and vegetables! Freecycle’s online community has grown so that you’ll likely find an organization near you.

Recycle, Recycle, Recycle!

• Earth 911 is a great resource to find a recycling or reuse location near you.

Product-Specific Actions

• Learn About the True Costs of Drinking Bottled Water —PMA
• Safely Recycle Fluorescent Bulbs and Tubes
  The following companies are leading the charge toward corporate responsibility:
  
  • Home Depot
    Home Depot accepts compact fluorescent light bulbs. CPSC strongly recommends that consumers urge them to accept fluorescent tubes, also.
    
• Recycle Rechargeable Batteries
  Check out our battery product page for more information.
  
• Recycle Mercury Thermostats
  The Mercury Thermostat Recycling Corporation maintains a list of locations that accept mercury thermostats free of charge.
  
• Recycle Electronics
  Texas has put together a comprehensive list of which companies, producers and retailers, take-back e-waste for recycling.

Consumer Education

You can influence the future of product stewardship! Your purchasing decisions can help drive innovative product design and encourage producers to take responsibility for the products they create and sell for profit. Information on this page will help you make informed decisions about the products you buy.

• Story of Electronics

• Let's Trash The Beach (1 minute 13 seconds) —Keep America Beautiful
  Why We Need Product Stewardship

• The Story of Stuff (20 minutes)
  This is a powerful and entertaining introduction by Annie Leonard to the over-production, over-consumption and over-wasting inherent in our global economy. It describes the roles of government and corporations, and the effects on everyone.
  

• Synthetic Seas: Plastics in the Ocean —Algalita Marine Research Foundation
  Learn about the effects of plastic debris in the ocean. Dr. Charles Moore of the Algalita Marine Research Foundation documents the western pacific garbage gyre – a floating “island” of plastic debris in the Pacific Ocean.

• The Secret Life of Paper (5 minutes)
  Learn how paper production is related to forest destruction and global warming, and why recycling and buying recycled paper are important.
  

• The Secret Life of Cell Phones (5 minutes)
  See where old cell phones and mobile devices go when you recycle them and why you should recycle them.
  

• Batteries Not Included
  This news story was produced by Canada’s Marketplace, a consumer education television show, to document the problem of alkaline battery disposal.
  

• Fluorescent bulbs

  • Dr. Wilkes, Professor of Medicine and Vice Dean for Medical Education at UC Davis, talks about the hazards of fluorescent bulbs and why the public hasn't been informed.
    [Flash player] [MP3] (3 minutes)
    
    
  • Shopper's Guide to CFLs —Environmental Working Group 1/19/09

• Electronic waste
  Is e-waste harming our children? Story from the Huffington Post 8/25/08