Many people don't think before they purchase. It is rare for people to think to themselves, "Do I really need this, or is this just an impulse buy?" Taking simple steps such as asking yourself a question like that is a way you can take action and do your part to help the environment.

Buying big quantities of items drives climate change. Whether that is ordering things online, buying in-store, or purchasing a large quantity of an items can hurt the environment. In 2015, a study showed that the production and use of household goods and services were responsible for 60 percent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. That is wealthier countries create more impact per person. (How Buying Stuff Drives Climate Change, 2020) There are many carbon dioxide emissions from transporting and manufacturing these items. Most forms of transportation burn fossil fuel while in use, therefore, buying items that you may not really need is unnecessary, and harmful to the environment.