In an earlier post, I wrote about mystery shopping and being green. Here, Heather Johnson of OrganicCoupons.org shares additional tips about keeping your mystery shopping business green.

Consumerism is a part of daily life in our society, and as a mystery shopper you are paid be a consumer. This does not mean, however, that you have to be wasteful. There are many different ways you can do your part each day to be a green mystery shopper, which will help curb the impact you make on the environment, as well as your wallet—while still helping you to earn money shopping.

1. Be a Green Purchaser
As a mystery shopper, like any business owner, you certainly have to spend money to make money. As a green shopper, it’s how you spend your money that is important. Green shoppers should buy recycled and organic products whenever possible, or items that are inherently reusable in order to minimize their environmental impact.

2. It’s All About the Packaging
For many companies, the packaging of a product is the biggest part of the presentation that helps seal the deal with customers. Many companies, however, are switching to more environmentally-friendly post-consumers products to package their wares. Other companies offer their products in containers that can be reused for other purposes. It’s best to think “outside the box” when making your purchases. Consider the packaging and its impact and/or reusability when making your final selection.

3. Be a Star—An Energy Star!
Energy-saving innovations have been on the rise in recent years, and so has the amount of products out there that proudly sport the Energy Star logo. Products that bear this symbol have been tested by the EPA and have been proven to be energy savers. One item of particular interest is the compact fluorescent light bulb, which could help you save hundreds of dollars over the life of the bulb.

4. Size Matters
In certain cases, size does matter, especially when it comes to waste. Buying products in bulk actually reduces the amount of packing used in regard to the total amount of product you are purchasing. Not only that, but buying in bulk for necessary items will ultimately reduce the amount of times you have to visit the store, which cuts down on your fuel consumption and emissions.

5. Practice Makes Perfect
When it comes to being a green shopper, it takes time and consistency to develop good green habits. Continue thinking about the products you choose to purchase and their impact on the planet. Try to make sure you reuse anything you can, including your shopping bags. Make sure to plan your shopping route ahead of time to maximize your miles per gallon. There are so many things we can do to do our fair share and minimize our impact on the environment as green shoppers. Put this list next to your shopping list next time you head out.

This post was contributed by Heather Johnson, who writes on the subject of green and organic shopping. She invites your feedback at heatherjohnson2323 at gmail dot com.

Being green when it comes to secret shopping is not only good for the environment, it can be good for your wallet, too. Many eco-friendly choices for transportation, supplies and your home office can also save you money.

The basic mantra of green living is: Reduce, reuse and recycle. Reduce how much you buy and the amount of trash you discard. Reuse products by repairing them, buying used or finding new uses for items. Recycle by sending paper, glass and plastic waste to facilities where they can be processed and used to manufacture new products.

Here are some tips to help you save cash and the environment at the same time.

Save paper by not printing everything. Instead of printing copies of your reports, save them as PDFs. You will also use less filing space this way.

Refill ink and toner cartridges instead of replacing them. You can buy do-it-yourself kits for many cartridges, or look for a local vendor who will refill them for you. Places such as Cartridge World and Office Depot will refill most brands.

Reuse paper by printing on both sides. When you do have to print, use both sides of the paper when you can. You will save money on paper and save a few trees, too. And when you discard the paper, recycle it.

Carry cloth napkins or small towels in the car, and do not grab a handful of paper napkins at the fast food restaurant.

Do you take a bottle of water with you when you leave the house? Use a refillable sports bottle instead of water in disposable bottles. Run tap water through a filter if you do not like the taste of your local tap water. It’s cheaper and does not create as much waste.

Use rechargeable batteries for electronic devices, such as digital cameras and voice recorders. You will save money and create less toxic waste.

Unplug electronics when not in use. Most use at least a small amount of electricity, even when they are not on.

Do not replace electronics sooner than necessary. And when you must get a new cell phone or computer, donate your old one to an organization that will reuse it or recycle it properly. You may even get a tax deduction for your donation.

Adjust your thermostat when you are not home. Why pay to heat or cool your house when you are out mystery shopping? Manually turn the temperature up (in summer) or down (in winter) when you leave for the day or, better yet, get a programmable thermostat that you can set to raise or lower the temperature based on your schedule.

Replace light bulbs in your home office with compact fluorescent bulbs. They use less electricity and last longer than incandescent bulbs (so they do not have to be replaced as often). Plus, many fluorescent bulbs provide softer, more natural light than harsh incandescents.

Paper or plastic? When asked which you prefer, the answer should be whichever you will reuse. For example, plastic bags can be reused as trash bags. Or, if appropriate, carry your own canvas bag when shopping.

Group your trips to save gas. Create a mystery shopper route, and do a bunch of shops in one day. Run other errands while mystery shopping, too.

Get the most out of every gallon of gas by keeping your tires inflated, removing unnecessary weight from your car, and other tips on how to save gas found here.

Reduce, reuse and recycle to save the planet and your pocketbook.