Consuming Less

I feel like I do my best to consume less. Opting to walk instead of drive. Buying local. Buying secondhand. Bringing my own bags to stores, or opting to put my purchases in my purse – or, (gasp!) using my magnificent eight fingers and two opposable thumbs to carry my purchases out of the store.

Last week, I went to the grocery for coffee creamer and Clif bars – five items, total. At the checkout, when asked paper or plastic, I said, “Neither. I’ll carry everything out.”

The bagger pulled out of her apron a roll of neon-orange, 4-inch circular stickers. They read Thank you for shopping at Ralph’s, and she put one on each of my five items.

“It’s a new rule. We have to sticker everything that leaves the store without a bag. To prove you paid for the stuff.”

So much for simplicity. I couldn’t help but wonder why the security guard needed bright orange stickers to see that I wasn’t shoplifting. Couldn’t he simply verify my purchase by looking at my receipt as I left the store? This wouldn’t create an enormous problem. How many items can a person really carry in their arms? Would it be that difficult to look at a receipt and check-off five or six items?

I tried to eliminate the need for a bag by carrying my goods in my arms…but instead, someone else found it necessary to have these stickers manufactured and shipped to Ralph’s stores – processes that create waste.

Two steps forward, one step back.

Oh, and if you prefer the plastic grocery bags for collecting your dog’s poo on walks, check out these 100% biodegradable poop bags at PoopBags.com. I know, it creates waste to manufacture them…true, but you’ve gotta clean up the poo with something. It might as well be biodegradable. Plus, one year’s supply comes out to just over a penny a bag. Happy pooping!