The Environment Magazine

Buying fruits and veggies is a smart move for your health. Wrapping each red pepper and head of broccoli in its own plastic bag? Eh, not so much.

Experts estimate it may take as long as 1,000 years for the average plastic bag to break down. When turtles and other sea critters get their fins on these bags, they sometimes mistake them for food, with fatal results.

Buy fruit and veggies loose or use a disposable bag from home. Try to buy other foods with minimal packaging (like cereal that’s housed in just a bag, not a bag and a box).

If you do choose packaged products, check the label to see if the packaging was made from recycled materials. And be sure to recycle or reuse (see the next tip) any cardboard, paper, or plastic packaging when you’re done with it.

courtesy of greatist.com