While the Earth Summit + 5 is going on, world leaders are discussing action plans that will create sustainable development around the globe. But what can we do in our own lives to reduce our ecological impact in our own human environments? This column will present one idea each day. Our purpose is to provide ways that we in our lives can reduce our own "ecological footprint"...

Buying more than the earth can afford

Every time we buy something we are absorbing more than just that one thing. When we buy things, we are consumers: the most important target in the production path. We as consumers, in buying something, provide the reason for someone else to produce that good. It is this role that all people in the world share, and because the moving, buying, and selling of things around the world creates the demand for most of the resources we pull out of the planet, our role as consumers defines all peoples' eco footprints.

When we buy something, we are providing consumer support for the manufacturer (the producer). For example, when I buy Nike shoes, I'm supporting the owners of Nike, and the Nike company as a whole. The marketplace is like a dialogue. Each time sales go up, the actions, behaviour, and the production of the "producer" is reinforced. Now, picture yourself walking into a bakery in your community. You pick out a loaf of bread. You go to the cashier. You speak to the baker. The conversations you have are important. Why?

In this picture, your conversation with the baker in a local bakery is a direct conversation with the producer of the bread. This conversation provides the producer with a number of signals. If you express that you are happy with the bread, and the way it is packaged, the producer gets a signal that says, "Stick with what you are doing." This consumer power is very important.

Consider the option of a complaint. Suppose you say, "Why does this bread have to be in two plastic bags, that bothers me..." You are giving the signal to the producer to change. Because the market is based on competition, this signal ultimately means that you are threatening to go to another producer. This "dialogue" can be used to reduce your eco footprint.

Here's how:

• if you have a concern with the waste, packaging, or way in which a product is being made, learn all you can about it
  
• make sure your opinion is based on fact
  
• find an alternate solution: criticism is more powerful and productive when it is accompanied by a solution to make things better
  
• once you have done this, present your feedback to the producer: write a letter, e-mail them if possible (it's paper free), tell them your concerns...

You may be surprised with how powerful your voice is. Most producers will be happy to get ideas from you, and if they are not, you may want to consider if they are worth your support anyway. Realistically, remember that the smaller the difference between you and the producer the greater your impact. So, here is an important reason why supporting local industry and stores is important. You have more control over the actions of a smaller producer, than over the actions of a huge, international company.

Now imagine a mountain of all of the plastic bags you have bought things in -- every bag -- from every purchase in your life. These "mountains " do exist - all around the world, plastics make up a huge portion of the stuff in garbage dumps outside our cities.

If you want to reduce your eco-footprint, it's very simple. Don't take the bags that stores give out. Bring your own, use cloth bags, and remember the first part of our consumer conversation; tell the store why you're not. If they think that others are interested in reducing the piles of plastic on our earth too, who knows, they may stop making those bags!