What are we REALLY buying?

Have any of you ever wondered what really went into producing your shampoo, your new coffee table, or your morning granola? This blog is to discuss all the aspects of sustainability and the products that we buy every day. How much gas was used to transport your tea to the store? What impact do our purchasing decisions have? Do the "green" labels on your toilet paper really mean that its environmentally friendly?

I feel bombarded with choices, but with too little information about these choices I feel overwhelmed and unsure about how to make my voice as a consumer heard. I want to know how much gas that was used to distribute the product, the human capital used to manufacture the product, and what kind of recycling programs does the corporation use to properly dispose of waste product. If I knew about these things, I might change my purchasing patterns.

If we are ever going to see real change in sustainability practises and environmental responsibility, then it is not up to governments or NGOs to make these changes (although they are vital to the success of this change), I strongly feel that only major corporations are large enough to create change on the scale that we need. Therefore, it is imperative to make our voices as consumers heard.