Shoppers have been conditioned to buy certain products over others. Grocery stores are a great example where products are marked in addition to what the product is and the mandatory regulatory markings. For example, if you are buying ground beef, the packaging may also contain the following stickers: organic, healthy choice, lean, etc.
In addition to being guided towards healthy choices for our bodies, there is an excellent opportunity to guide shoppers towards products that are better for the environment and wildlife than similar products within the same category. Some products naturally lend themselves to being better for wildlife if they end up in the coastal or woodland environment.
“To preserve ocean wildlife, it’s more important than ever to choose sustainable alternatives to disposable plastic. Reusable dinnerware such as cups, plates, cutlery, and straws are always best but if you must choose a disposable option, choose paper over plastic.”
Kelly Thorvalson, Conservation Programs Manager, South Carolina Aquarium
The following are some examples:
Choosing paper food service items (cups and plates) over plastic. Should a paper plate or cup enter the ocean or environment, it will quickly break down and is highly unlikely to clog an animal or bird’s intestinal tract.
Buying balloons with weights. Balloons add a fun ambiance to any event. They do not pose a danger to wildlife until they are released into the environment. Decorative balloon weights are extremely inexpensive and greatly reduce the risk of balloons being accidentally released. Please buy either balloons with weights already attached or a separate decorative balloon weight to attach your balloons to.
Reusable bags. Forget paper over plastic. Both consume a lot of resources and many paper bags just 
become single-use bags. After you collect 10 or so paper bags, the rest just become clutter in your house or just get thrown away when unloaded at home adding to the landfills. Use your reusable bags at the hard goods stores. When you go to Target, Walmart, Macy’s, Home Depot, Lowes, etc. take these reusable bags with you.
Please watch our YouTube video on How Litter Kills for a different perspective on these issues.